JPH037028A - Electronics - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the backup battery of an IC card to be exchanged while holding its stored contents by exchanging the backup battery in a condition wherein a backup power supply for holding the stored contents is supplied to the IC card from an electronic instrument's body side. CONSTITUTION:The output voltage of a backup battery 5 in an IC card 2 is monitored via a voltage detecting circuit 18 on an instrument's body 1 side. When the voltage approaches a value unsuitable for the backup of a RAM and the like in the IC card 2, the controller 15 of the body warns a drop in the backup voltage of the IC card 2 by displaying a message on a display 17. In the period for which the backup battery 5 is exchanged, the memory such as the RAM of the IC card 2 is fed from a power supply 19 on the instrument's body 1 side via an interface circuit 16, contents stored in the memory being backed up.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electronic device, particularly an IC card connected to an IC card that stores predetermined information and has a replaceable backup battery for retaining the stored contents. It is related to the electronic equipment used.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, IC cards equipped with storage means such as ROM and RAM have been known as external storage devices or storage media for electronic devices.

Although this IC card is inferior to magnetic disks and magnetic tapes in terms of cost per unit storage capacity and storage capacity, it does not require a special reading device, so it can be used in small electronic devices such as small-scale portable devices. widely used.

Among these, IC cards equipped with RAM are known to have a built-in thin battery (backup battery) such as a lithium battery in order to retain (back up) the contents of the RAM when the card is removed from the main device.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in the past, when the capacity of the backup battery became low and it was replaced, the RAM in the IC card was not connected to any power supply, so it was difficult to There is a problem of information being lost, and when replacing the backup battery, it is necessary to save the information on the card to another device or the like before replacing the backup battery.

An IC card has also been proposed in which a relatively large-capacity capacitor is installed in the IC card for replacing the backup battery, and the RAM is backed up using the power stored in this capacitor while the backup battery is being replaced. There is.

However, since there is a natural limit to the capacity of a capacitor that can be mounted on an IC card with a thickness of 2 to 3 mm and a size about the size of a business card, the backup time is only a few tens of seconds at most, and considering the time required to replace the buffer battery. Therefore, it is not necessarily possible to store a sufficiently long special urI.

Another possible method is to supply power from the M terminal connected to the first main unit after the IC card is removed from the main unit, and replace the backup battery during this time.

However, even in this case, if the backup battery runs out while the IC card is connected to the main unit, it is impossible to remove the IC card from the main unit while supplying power. It is not possible to prevent the memory contents of RAM from disappearing.

Furthermore, thin lithium batteries, which are often used as backup batteries for IC cards, are generally not as readily available (compared to the AA-sized dry batteries that are used), so it is important to know when it is time to replace the battery. It is often the case that the device is completely worn out while it is connected to the main unit because the user neglects to do this even though the device is connected to the main unit.

In any case, conventionally there has been no reliable method for replacing the backup battery without erasing the memory contents of the RAM. Back up your IC card while preserving its contents
The purpose is to make it possible to replace the f-pond.

[Means for Solving the Problems 1] In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, an IC card that stores predetermined information and has a built-in replaceable backup battery for retaining the stored contents is connected. In an electronic device used as an electronic device, the lid member of the IC card is placed in the IC card mounting portion of the main body of the electronic device at a position corresponding to the lid member of the IC card for replacing the backup battery built into the IC card. A removable opening is provided through which the lid member and backup battery of the IC card can be installed and removed, and the IC card can be removed from the electronic device main body side.
A configuration is adopted in which the backup battery of the IC card is replaced while the card is supplied with backup power for retaining the stored contents.

[Function] According to the above configuration, the lid member and the backup battery of the IC card can be attached and detached through the opening, and the backup battery of the IC card can be replaced while supplying backup power from the main body of the electronic device. I can do it.

[Example J] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1(A) shows the back side of an electronic device incorporating the present invention. The device shown in FIG. It is used for communication, etc.

The main body 1 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1(A) is configured such that an IC card 2 can be inserted therein and the IC card 2 can be used as an external storage device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the IC card 2 is inserted into the opening on the side of the device main body l! By pushing it into the device body l in six directions, it is attached to a connecting means such as a connector (not shown) inside the device main body l. I
To eject or remove the C card 2, use the eject lever 8 located at a predetermined position on the back of the device main body 1.
This is done by operating the button in the B direction.

Further, ejection of the card can be locked and unlocked by a lock lever 9, and is configured to prevent the IC card 2 from being accidentally removed due to impact or the like. Further, the lock lever 9 also serves as a switch to prevent the power from being turned on while the IC card is being inserted or removed.

Since the card ejection of the eject lever 8 and the locking mechanism using the lock lever 9 are well known, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here.

When the IC card 2 is installed, a title cover 4 is installed with screws 6 on the surface corresponding to the back surface of the main body as shown. This title cover 4 displays the title of information stored in the ROM, RAM, etc. built into the IC card 2, and also serves as a backup for a lithium battery or the like installed in the battery installation part 7 inside the IC card 2. It also functions as a cover that hides the opening for replacing the battery 5.

An opening 3 having a larger opening area than the title cover 4 is provided at a predetermined position on the back surface of the device main body 1 corresponding to the position of the title cover 4 when the IC card 2 is installed. This opening 3 is used to visually confirm the title of the card printed or written on the title cover 4, and is also used to remove the title cover 4 and supply power from the device main body with the IC card 2 installed in the device. This is for replacing the backup battery 5 while backing up the RAM inside the IC card 2.

In FIG. 1(A), numeral 10 is a lid for replacing the AA battery that is the power source of the main body, numeral 11 is a volume for adjusting the concentration of a display device (not shown) on the front side of the main body, and numeral 12 is a lid for replacing the AA battery that is the power source of the main body. is a lid for replacing the lithium battery for backup such as RAM inside the main body.

Figure 1 (B) shows the structure of the control system of the above device.
In the figure (B), reference numeral 15 denotes a control section consisting of a microprocessor or the like, which controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The IC card 2 is connected via an interface circuit 16 consisting of a predetermined connector, human output port, and the like. The voltage of the backup battery 5 inside the IC card 2 can be detected via a voltage detection circuit 18 using a comparator or the like on the main body side.

The control system of the main body of the device is driven by a power supply unit 19 that includes a battery installed inside the Mlo or 12 described above, and the output of this power supply unit 19 is connected to the interface circuit 1.
It is also possible to supply the IC card 2 via the IC card 6.

A display 17 made of an LCD or the like is connected to the control unit 15 in order to output information and display warning information and the like in control to be described later.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

Normally, the IC card 2 is attached and detached as shown in FIG. 2, and in the attached state, the title cover 4 is
The characters, symbols, etc. of the title part are visible through the opening 3.

The output voltage of the backup battery 5 in the IC card 2 is monitored via the voltage detection circuit 18 of the device main body, and when the value approaches a value inappropriate for backing up the RAM in the card, the main body control The unit 15 warns of a drop in the backup voltage of the IC card 2 by displaying a 7 warning message on the display 17.

When this warning is issued, the user removes the screw 6 through the opening 3, removes the title cover 4, and replaces the backup battery 5 with a new one while the IC card 2 is attached to the main body 1 of the apparatus.

During this replacement period for the backup battery 5, the I
Power is supplied to memory such as RAM of the C card 2, and its contents are reliably backed up. Backup battery 5
When the replacement is completed, the title cover 4 is fixed with the screws 6 through the opening 3, and one work is completed. After that,
The IC card 2 may be attached and detached through normal handling.

According to the above embodiment, the backup battery 5 of the IC card 2 can be replaced while the IC card 2 is attached to the device main body 1 while supplying backup power from the device main body 1. Therefore, the backup battery 5 can be replaced. The memory contents of the IC card 2 can be reliably retained even during this period.

Since backup power is supplied from the main body 1 of the device during replacement of the backup battery 5, there is no need to provide a backup capacitor or secondary battery in the IC card 2 as in the conventional case.

Also, if the voltage of the backup battery 5 of the IC card 2 drops, the main unit l side of the device! The backup battery 5 can be safely replaced without the need to remove the IC card 2. Also, the opening 3 is the title cover 4 of the card.
The title can be used for visual recognition, and the structure is streamlined.

In the above embodiment, the opening 3 remains open, but for design reasons or to protect the IC card body, a cover 13 made of transparent plastic or the like can be attached to the opening 3 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the cover 13 is fixed to the opening 3 via an engaging claw 13a or the like.

Similarly to FIG. 2, FIG. 4 shows the attachment/detachment state of the IC card 2 in the structure of FIG. 3. The IC card 2 is shown in FIG.
The IC card 2 can be attached and detached by the same operation as the embodiment shown in FIG.
In the wearing condition.

The title display on the title cover 4 of the IC card 2 can be read through the cover 13 attached to the opening 3. Also, at that time, the title cover 4 of IC card 2
Since the part is hidden by the cover 13, the IC card 2
can be reliably protected.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 13 is configured to be removable, but it may also be configured as a transparent cover that can be opened by sliding inside the main body.

Furthermore, although the above configuration has been explained using an IC card equipped with a RAM as an example, the present invention is not limited to devices using such a card, and can be applied to a CPU, a clock IC, etc.
This is an IC card that is equipped with a semiconductor element that can maintain registers and maintain the minimum necessary operation by backup, and is widely used in devices that use cards that have a built-in battery that backs up the operation. Needless to say.

In addition, in 1 and above, the structure is shown in which the title cover 4 with the title part attached to the IC card is provided, but such a title display may not be provided, and in that case, the third
The cover shown in FIGS. 4 and 4 does not have to be transparent, and may only protect the IC card.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, one aspect of the present invention is an electronic device that stores predetermined information and is used by connecting an IC card with a built-in replaceable backup battery for retaining the stored contents. In the device, the IC card is placed in the IC card mounting portion of the main body of the electronic device at a position corresponding to the lid member of the IC card for replacing the backup battery built into the IC card.
An opening is provided through which the cover member of the card can be attached and detached, and the cover member and backup battery of the IC card are attached and detached through this opening, and the IC card is used as a backup for retaining the stored contents from the electronic device main body side. Since the configuration is adopted such that the backup battery of the IC card is replaced while power is being supplied, the lid member and backup battery of the IC card can be attached and removed through the opening, and backup power can be supplied from the electronic device main body. This has an excellent effect in that the backup battery of the IC card can be replaced while the IC card is being operated, and the backup battery of the IC card can be replaced while reliably retaining the stored contents of the IC card.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1(A) is a perspective view showing the configuration of an electronic device adopting the present invention, FIG. 1(B) is a block diagram showing the structure of the control system of the device in FIG. 1(A), and FIG. The figure is a perspective view showing the operation of attaching and removing an IC card in the device shown in FIG. 1(A), and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the operation of attaching and detaching the IC card in the device shown in FIG. 3. l...Device body 2...IC card 3...
Opening 4...-Title cover 5...Backup battery 6...-Screw 7...Battery mounting part 8...-
Eject lever 9...Lock lever 13...Cover 15...Control unit 16...Interface circuit 17...Display r? 1 18... Voltage detection circuit 19.
...Power supply part f711 Lord 15 huff 0. Nofu Road Figure 1 CB)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) In an electronic device that stores predetermined information and is used by connecting an IC card with a built-in replaceable backup battery for retaining the stored contents,
An opening is provided in the C card mounting section at a position corresponding to the IC card lid member for replacing the backup battery built into the IC card, through which the IC card lid member can be attached and removed. The lid member and the backup battery of the IC card are attached and detached through the electronic device main body, and the backup battery of the IC card is replaced while a backup power source for retaining the stored contents is supplied to the IC card from the main body of the electronic device. electronic equipment. 2) According to claim 1, the cover member of the IC card is provided with an indication regarding the memory contents of the IC card or the function of the IC card, and the indication is made visible through the opening. electronic equipment. 3) The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a cover member that hides the opening. 4) The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover member is made of a transparent material.