JPS60234286A - Computer cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge containing an integrated circuit component (hereinafter referred to as "IC") used in connection with a computer body. Specifically, it relates to an IC cartridge that can be attached to a computer to allow computer users to use various software for video games, business, education, etc., and to expand memory capacity. be.

3.-1 Configuration of conventional examples and their problems In recent years, computers, especially personal computers, have been equipped with only basic functions.
Application software required by users is increasingly being supplied in the form of floppy disks, cassette tapes, RO4vi cartridges, and the like. Among these, many low-end personal computers in particular use ROM cartridges, which are easy to use even for beginners and are less prone to erroneous operation.

In addition, in order to improve the functionality of computers, ICs other than ROM (
For example, cartridges for memory capacity expansion (RAM, etc.) or signal conversion circuits with peripheral devices (interface circuits for printers, floppy disks, etc.) are also available.

Conventionally, there have been two types of cartridges for integrated circuit components (hereinafter referred to as "C") such as ROIt or RAM as described below.

The first type is one in which the IC is handled independently, and a connector corresponding to the shape of the IC to be used is provided in a part of the main body, and the user connects the IC as necessary to the connector. It is. This first form of IC car) IJ
The package is generally called an IC pack (for example, ROM puncture). Therefore, in this case, an IC pack that handles an IC alone or in combination with a simple holding means will be referred to as an IC pack. In the IC exchange method using such an IC pack, only one type of IC can be connected to one connector.
However, ROMs having the same memory capacity but different program write start addresses cannot be used by connecting them to the same connector. Furthermore, when handling the IC pack, it is easy to touch the IC terminals with one's hands, and there is a danger that the IC terminals may be deformed or the ICs may be destroyed by static electricity.

In the second embodiment, the IC is attached to a circuit board such as a printed wiring board, and is used by being built in a plastic case 6/, 7 or the like. Since this type of cartridge is generally called an IC cartridge in a narrow sense, hereinafter, only this second type of cartridge will be referred to as an IC cartridge to distinguish it from the first type of IC puncture. In the case of the second type of IC cartridge, if a printed wiring board with a circuit according to the IC specifications is prepared, it is possible to use an IC'ff with a different specification, and it can also be used with other devices containing multiple ICs. Cartridges for signal conversion circuits (for example, printer interface circuits, etc.) can also be connected, but the shape of the IC cartridge is large and
There are many types of printed wiring boards that need to be prepared, and the product price is extremely high.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and can be used by connecting various ICi common cartridges with different specifications such as memory capacity and program start address, and can be used with software products. To provide a smaller and more compact computer cartridge that can be assembled at low cost.

Structure of the Invention The present invention provides a circuit board that includes a plurality of selectable circuits, an IC having predetermined specifications, and connecting means that can electrically connect a terminal of the IC to a predetermined position on the circuit board. I
This is a computer cartridge equipped with a changeover switch that can select and change a predetermined circuit from among the plurality of circuits on the circuit board according to the specifications of the circuit board, and by changing the changeover switch, it can be used for each IC with different specifications. It is possible to select and use the appropriate circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a computer that can be used by installing an IC cartridge containing ROM or RAM.

In FIG. 1, a cartridge 2 is installed in a slot 6 of a combinator 4. As shown in FIG. The computer 4 includes a keyboard 8 and a built-in control circuit including a CPU. Computer users can use desired software, expand memory capacity, etc. by replacing various cartridges and installing them in the computer 4.
Peripheral devices such as printers and floppy disks can be connected. The present invention relates to the structure of the cartridge 2, and a detailed explanation of the internal structure of the computer 4 will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a computer cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing its internal structure. The cartridge of this embodiment is FROM (Electrically Programmable ROM)
This is applied to cartridges that have a built-in program and can be used by writing a user's desired program using a specific terminal from outside the cartridge.

In FIG. 2, the cartridge 9 includes an upper case 10, a lower case 12. Specifications of the lever 24 of the changeover switch 14 and the cartridge, such as software name and built-in IC
Its appearance is made up of a label 16 indicating the type, etc. As shown in FIG. 3, a circuit board 18 is arranged inside the cartridge 9.
A FROM 20 and a changeover switch 14 are mounted on the top with their terminals electrically connected by Hirata. A predetermined circuit pattern is formed on the circuit board 18 by printed wiring (the pattern is not shown) in order to perform the functions of the cartridge, and one end of the circuit board 18 has a combination circuit pattern, as shown in FIG. An input/output terminal 22 is provided to be connected to a control circuit of the computer 4 when a cartridge is inserted into the slot 6. A part of this input/output terminal 22 is used to write a desired program to Pl(0M20).The circuit board 18 also has a structure in which a desired program can be written to Pl(0M20). A plurality of switchable circuits (not shown) are printed and wired, and the plurality of circuits are configured to be switched by sliding the lever 24 of the changeover switch 14.

9,,- With the above configuration, according to this example, FROM
In a FROM cartridge which has a built-in program and can be used by writing a program using a specific terminal from the outside of the cartridge, a circuit corresponding to a program having a different write start address can be selected by a changeover switch. In other words, by preparing one kind of FROM cartridge, various programs having different write start addresses can be written and used.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a computer cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the external appearance with the IC pack 26 removed from the cartridge main body 24. In Figures 4 and 5, I
The IC pack 26 holding the C27 is mounted with its outer periphery and small protrusions 29 positioned by the fitting portion of the cartridge body 24 with the case 28. The case 28 is provided with a recess 30 in which a finger can easily be caught when the IC pack 26 is attached or removed. A label 32 is attached to the surface of the shredded IC pack 26 to display the contents of the IC 27, such as the name of the program and the specifications of the IC.

Next, the internal structure of the cartridge will be explained.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the IC pack 26 seen from the back side.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the assembled structure of the IC pack 26. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views of the IC pack 26 before and after the IC pack 26 is installed at the A-A cross section in FIG. 5, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are the IC pack 26 installed at the B-B cross section in FIG. Before·
A cross-sectional view is shown after a few verses.

In FIG. 5, a circuit board 34 is disposed inside the IJ body 24, and the circuit board 34 1! Above is one IC connector 36 and six changeover switches 38 (only three are shown in FIG. 6), with their respective terminals electrically connected by Ikuta-bonding.
6° 3 First, the connection structure between the IC 27 and the IC connector 36 will be explained using FIGS. 5 to 9. As shown in FIGS. A plurality of connecting terminals 40 made of metal and having spring properties are arranged at equal pitches so as to face each other, and when the 7'iV I C27 is inserted into the IC pack 26, the connecting terminals 40 are connected to the terminals 42 of the IC27. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the I
After the C27 is combined with the IC holder 44, it is fixed by bending the terminal 42 of the IC27 in an inward direction.

The IC holder 44 is held by sliding and fitting the flange portion 46 into a groove 50 provided in the IC pack case 48. When the IC holder 44 is fully slid and fitted, the small protrusion 52 is bent downward in FIG. The IC holder 44 returns to its original state and the IC pack case 48
It will never come off.

Moreover, the IC holder 44 and the IC pack case 48 are not completely fixed, but are fitted together with a gap of about 1 M in the two directions of arrows X and Y shown in FIG.

With this configuration, when the IC puncture 26 is installed in the cartridge body, the IC 27 and the IC pack case 48 can be positioned independently. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the IC 27 is positioned at the center of the IC connector 36 with the terminal 42 in contact with the terminal 4° of the IC connector 36, and the IC puncture case 48 is located at the outer periphery and The small protrusion 29 is positioned by the fitting part of the IJ body 24 with the case 28. This prevents excessive force from being applied to the IC connector 36 due to variations in component accuracy and installation accuracy, and prevents uneven gaps between the outer periphery of the IC pack case 48 and the cartridge body, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance. Improve.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 8, and Fig. 9,
,,−,.

A tapered portion 54 is provided so as to serve as a guide. For this reason, the IC pack 26 is inserted into the cartridge body 2.
4, even if the position of the IC holder 44 is slightly misaligned with the position of the IC connector 36, it can be easily installed by simply placing the IC pack 26 at an approximately appropriate position on the cartridge body 24 and pressing it from above. IC27 and I in a smooth manner
Connection with the C connector 36 can be made.

Next, the operation of the changeover switch 38 will be explained using FIGS. 5 to 7 and FIGS. 10 and 11.

The circuit board 34 has an IC connected to the IC connector 36.
Multiple circuits that can be selected and switched according to 27 specifications (
A circuit pattern (not shown) is printed and wired, and the plurality of circuits can be switched by selecting and turning on two of the six changeover switches 38. The changeover switch 38 is located on the cartridge body 14.

Two actuators 68 for operating the changeover switch 38 are attached to the IC pack case 48 as shown in FIG.
They are slid into place and fixed by adhesive or frictional force at a position corresponding to the changeover switch 38 according to the specifications of the construction C27. Here, as shown in FIG. 11, the switches are fixed at positions where the second and fifth changeover switches from the left are turned on.

With the above configuration, by fixing the actuator 58 at a position that conforms to the specifications of the IC to be attached to the IC pack 26, when connecting the IC 27 to the IC connector 36, a circuit according to the IC 27 is automatically selected. Various ICs such as mask ROM, FROM, RAM, etc. having different specifications can be connected to one type of cartridge main body 24 and used.

In this embodiment, a 15, -7 IC connector 36 having a metal springy connection terminal is used as a connection means for electrically connecting the terminal 42 of the IC 27 to the circuit board 34. , I using conductive rubber
(4-It is also possible to adopt a method of making face-to-face contact with the circuit board, etc.Also, a sliding actuator 58 was used to select the changeover switch 38, but a cylindrical pin may be press-fitted at the required position, Six pins may be provided in advance and unnecessary pins may be broken off.Also, when replacing the C pack 26 by using a slide switch as the changeover switch, it is possible to use a manual switching method. I don't have anything good to say.

Effects of the Invention The computer cartridge of the present invention includes a circuit board that includes a plurality of selectable circuits and a changeover switch that can selectively switch between the plurality of circuits, thereby increasing the memory capacity and capacity by simply switching the changeover switch. Mask ROM, FROM, R with different specifications such as program write start address
Various ICs such as AM can be connected to a common cartridge and used. For this reason, the PROM cartridge allows users to change the software programs they need many times, and the IC card allows users to replace only the IC when adding software or expanding memory capacity. can be provided, and its practical effects are great.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a computer that can be used with an IC cartridge installed; FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the external appearance and internal structure of a computer cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a computer cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the IC pack removed from the cartridge body, FIGS. 6 and 7 Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance and assembly structure of the IC pack from the back side.
Figure 9 is a sectional view of the A-A cross section in Figure 5 before and after the IC pack is installed, Figures 1o and 11 are the B-B cross section in Figure 5 before and after the IC pack is installed. FIG. 17,,-2 Circuit board, 20...IC, cartridge body for 24..., 26...IC pack, 27...
...IC, 34...Circuit board, 36...
・IC connector, 38...Switch switch, 4
4. Old... IC holder, 58... Actuator. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure 2 Figure 3 2n f'1 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 8 Figure 6 Figure 8

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) a circuit board including a plurality of selectable circuits, an integrated circuit component having predetermined specifications, and a connector capable of electrically connecting a terminal of the integrated circuit component to a predetermined position of the circuit board; and a changeover switch that can select and change a predetermined circuit from among the plurality of circuits on the circuit board in accordance with the integrated circuit components connected to the circuit board, and by switching the changeover switch, different specifications can be obtained. A computer characterized in that a circuit can be selected according to the integrated circuit component.
Cartridge for data. (2) As a connection means, a connector is provided with a plurality of connection terminals and is electrically connected to a predetermined position on the circuit board, and a connector is provided independently from the connector so that an integrated circuit component can be attached to and detached from the connector and electrically connected to the connector. 2. A computer cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising means for holding a configured integrated circuit component, thereby making it possible to replace said integrated circuit component. 1''(3) A part of the holding means for the integrated circuit component is provided with an actuator capable of operating a changeover switch for selecting a circuit according to the integrated circuit component, and the integrated circuit mounted on the holding means 3. The computer cartridge according to claim 2, wherein a circuit corresponding to the integrated circuit component can be automatically selected by connecting the component to the connector.