JPH02302885A - Optical adaptor - 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 [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an optical adapter for connecting a portable data terminal that performs various data processing including data collection to a host computer.

(Prior Art) Handy terminals (H, T) are a type of data terminal used for this type of optical adapter.

) is a small, easy-to-carry, portable terminal with a built-in battery that performs various data processing, as shown in Figure 5, and is convenient as a data collection device. However, these programs and data are transferred via cables or wirelessly.

As shown in FIG.
It has a built-in memory card 5 that can be used as a program card or R
Load a program into the handy terminal 1 via the read/write device 3 using an AM card,
Some devices transfer data offline without using wireless technology. In this case, read/write the memory card.
It is necessary to provide the writing device 3 in the handy terminal body 1, which increases the size of the handy terminal body and also requires the provision of memory card control software within the handy terminal body.

On the other hand, handy terminals are equipped with an interface for data transmission with an external host computer such as a personal computer, and this often involves a connector interface for electrical coupling and an optical interface for optical coupling. There are two types. The electrically coupled connector interface is connected to the host computer 11 using a cable 7 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the optical interface for optical coupling is such that the handy terminal 1 is first connected to an optical adapter 9, and the optical adapter 9 is connected to a host computer 11 via a cable 7. Furthermore, the handy terminal must have a function for downloading an application program for the handy terminal body from the host computer 11 to the handy terminal 1 via these interfaces.

Now, considering the actual operation of handheld terminals,
As shown in FIG. 9, each handy terminal 1 is connected to a center host 13 installed at the center via a host computer 11 installed at each operation base. The data necessary for application software is transmitted over public or private lines, but in many cases it is not possible to transmit program files to the host system. In addition, 15 in FIG. 9 is a development machine. − In other words, especially in the case of a system that does not require a memory card, updates to the programs in the handy terminal must be downloaded by directly connecting to the development machine for the application program for the handy terminal, and in the case of a remote location, it is necessary to download the must be installed at each handy terminal operation base, or the handheld terminal itself must be sent and returned. In addition, when a development machine is installed at each operation base, as shown in FIG. The floppy disk 17 is sent from the center to the operation base; the program written on the floppy disk 17 is then downloaded to the handy terminal 1 via the machine 15a at the operation base.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional handy terminal described above, when loading a program, it is necessary to provide the same machine as the development machine at each operation site, which is extremely uneconomical. There is.

Furthermore, in the conventional method, a read/write device is installed in the handy terminal, a memory card with a program written thereon is read through the read/write device, and the program is loaded into the handy terminal. It is necessary to provide a writing device, which makes the handy terminal structurally large and is very uneconomical.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical adapter that simplifies the work of updating a program for a data terminal, and also allows the data terminal itself to be made smaller and more economical. It is in.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the optical adapter for a handy terminal of the present invention is an optical adapter for connecting a portable data terminal that performs various data processing including data collection to a host computer. connecting means for accepting a portable storage medium storing information, making an electrical connection with the portable storage medium, reading the information stored on the portable storage medium and loading it into a data terminal;
and read/write control means for reading information stored in the data terminal and loading it onto the portable storage medium.

(Function) The optical adapter of the present invention has read/write control means for accepting a portable storage medium storing information,
The information stored on the portable storage medium is loaded into the data terminal via the control means, and the information stored on the data terminal is read and loaded onto the portable storage medium.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical adapter 21 shown in the figure has the handy terminal 1 constituting the data terminal as shown in FIG. , has a memory card slot 23 on the front side, and this slot 23
Insert the memory card 5, which is a portable storage medium, into the portable terminal 1, read the data and programs written on the inserted memory card 5, and write the read data and programs to the handy terminal 1. The handheld terminal 1 is equipped with a read/write function capable of reading out data, programs, etc. stored in the handy terminal 1 and writing the data, programs, etc. read out from the handy terminal 1 into the memory card 5.

The optical adapter 21 shown in FIG. 1 is also used to connect the handy terminal 1 to the host computer 11 in the conventional manner and to transmit and receive data between the two, as shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the optical adapter 21 can also be used by the host computer 11 to write and read data, programs, etc. to and from the memory card 5, as shown in FIG. And like this, memory card 5
The program can be easily updated by writing a program into the memory card 5 and sending the memory card 5 after writing the program to another operation base as shown in FIG.

In addition to sending a memory card with a program written to it, data can also be transferred easily and inexpensively by writing data to the memory card, making it possible to construct systems that were previously unimaginable. Gender is also greatly expanded. The handy terminal itself does not need to have a built-in read/write device as in the past, and can be made smaller and lower in price.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, there is provided a read/write control means for accepting a memory card storing information, and the information stored on the portable storage medium is loaded into the data terminal via the control means. At the same time,
Since the information stored in the data terminal is read and loaded onto a portable storage medium, it is possible to easily update the program on the data terminal by using a portable storage medium on which the program has been written. It is also possible to easily exchange data offline using a portable storage medium.

In addition, the data terminal itself does not require a read/write device, and there is no need to install the same machine as the development machine at the operation base, so it is possible to achieve economical and miniaturization, and the data terminal A wide range of application possibilities can be developed using only the basic functions of the main body.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing data transmission and reception with a host computer using the optical adapter of FIG. 1, and FIG. An explanatory diagram showing the process of writing/reading data to/from a memory card using an adapter. Figure 4 shows a memory card with a program written in it using the optical adapter shown in Figure 1, which is sent to another operation base to read and write the program. An explanatory diagram showing how the update is performed. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the handy terminal. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the handy terminal equipped with a read/write device. Figure 7 is the handy terminal and host computer using a cable. Figure 8 is a diagram showing the electrical connection between the handheld terminal and the host computer using an optical adapter, and Figure 9 is the diagram showing the electrical connection between the host computer and the handheld terminal at the center and each operation base. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the actual operating state in which the terminal is connected, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how the same machine as the development machine is installed at each operation base and the program is updated. 1Φ...handy terminal, 5...memory card, 21...optical adapter, 23. pot/memory card slot.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical adapter for connecting a portable data terminal that performs various data processing including data collection to a host computer, which accepts a portable storage medium that stores information and establishes an electrical connection with the portable storage medium. and read/write control means for reading information stored in the data terminal and loading it onto the portable storage medium. An optical adapter featuring: