JPH0571943U - Personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The present invention provides a connector for connecting an IC card,
Its main feature is that it has a card interface used not only for C cards but also for connection of card-type hard disk packs (HDD cards). [Structure] IC card signal control unit 1 for generating interface signals for IC cards defined by industry standards such as JEIDA / PCMCIA and controlling access to mounted IC cards.
And an HDD signal control unit 2 for generating an interface signal dedicated to the HDD card and controlling access to the mounted HDD card.
A selector 3 for switching between two types of signals obtained from each of the signal control units and connecting to a connector 4 for connecting an IC card, an IC card connected to the connector 4 or an IC having dimensions specified by the above specifications. The present invention is characterized by having a card interface mechanism having a card mounting space structure in which an HDD card 5 having a slightly different size from that of a card can be mounted.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a personal computer having an interface for IC card connection defined by industry standards such as JEIDA / PCMCIA.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 With the spread of IC cards, JE IDA / PCMCIA has established the electrical and physical specifications of IC cards in order to solve compatibility problems between the cards.

Along with this, many personal computers having an IC card interface complying with this specification have been announced, but basically, only cards of the dimensions specified in the above specifications can be mounted. It has a simple structure.

In addition, the recent trend toward light, thin, short, and small technologies has led to the miniaturization of personal computers, which has made it possible to mount a card-sized hard disk pack (hereinafter referred to as an HDD card). As a result, at present, it is not possible to achieve the same thickness as an IC card.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 As described above, conventionally, the IC card mounting portion of the personal computer that supports the JEIDA / PCMCIA specification IC card has a structure in which only a card having a size defined by industry standard specifications can be mounted. On the other hand, HDD cards cannot currently be designed to have a thickness comparable to that of IC cards, so even if there are different sizes, such as vertical or horizontal sizes, the IC card connector A flexible and extensible system was not built by sharing and implementing it in the same place.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has both an interface for connecting an IC card and both the IC card and the HDD card can be selected with the same IC card connector. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a personal computer that can be interfaced with and used.

[0007]

[Device configuration]

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention, in a personal computer having an interface including a connector for connecting an IC card defined by an industry standard, which meets the specified specifications and is connected to a computer main body, and this IC card It is characterized by selectively connecting an HDD card that does not necessarily have the same size to the common connector of the main body and sharing the interface for IC card connection with the interface for HDD card connection.

Further, as an interface for operating the HDD card, in addition to the IC card mode defined by the industry standard, an interface dedicated to the HDD card is provided, and when the HDD control circuit is built in the HDD card, the IC In the card mode, when the HDD control circuit is installed in the computer body, the interface is switched to the HDD card dedicated interface.

[0010]

[Action]

 The personal computer of the present invention includes an IC card signal controller for generating / controlling an interface signal for an IC (memory or I / O) card defined by an industry standard such as JEIDA / PCMCIA, and an HDD card (of card type). (Hard disk pack) An IC card connected to the connector for IC card connection or the above specifications by switching the two types of signals obtained from the HDD signal control unit that generates / controls the dedicated interface signal By adopting a structure that allows HDD cards that have slightly different dimensions from the IC cards having the dimensions specified in 1 above to be selectively mounted, we will realize sharing of IC cards and HDD cards with the same connector. As a result, the IC card and the HDD card will share the connector, so there is no need to prepare an interface mechanism including a connector unique to the HDD card, and the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Since it is not necessary to prepare a mounting space for mounting the IC card and a mounting space for mounting the HDD card, the mounting space can be made more efficient and the size can be reduced.

[0011]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an internal circuit of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is an IC card signal control unit (IC card CONT) that generates / controls various signals according to the specifications in order to support an IC card of the JEIDA / PCMCA specifications.

Reference numeral 2 is an HDD signal control unit (HDD-CONT) for generating various signals dedicated to an HDD card (card type hard disk pack) and controlling access to the HDD card.

Reference numeral 3 is a selector interposed between the IC card signal control unit 1 and the HDD signal control unit 2 and the connector 4, and the IC card signal control unit 1 and the HD D signal control unit 2 are provided. And the signal path between the connector 4 and the connector 4. Reference numeral 4 is an IC card connector to which an IC card 1 or an HDD card (mounting card) 5 having a common terminal structure is selectively connected.

Reference numeral 5 is a mounting card connected to the connector 4, and here, an IC card (whether a memory or an I / 0 card is acceptable) or an HDD card conforming to the JEIDA / PCMIA specifications is targeted. Becomes FIG. 2 is a view showing a structural example according to the present invention. In FIGS. 2A to 2D, reference numeral 6 is a housing of a personal computer, and reference numeral 7 is a PCB (printed circuit board) on which a CPU in the main body is mounted.

Reference numeral 8 is an IC card connector corresponding to reference numeral 4 in FIG. Reference numerals 9 and 10 are mounting cards corresponding to the reference numeral 5 in FIG. 1, respectively, reference numeral 9 is an IC card conforming to the JEID A / PCMCIA specifications, and reference numeral 10 is an HDD card (card type hard disk pack). The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below. First, the internal operation will be described with reference to FIG.

Normally, the selector 3 is adapted to select a signal path of the IC card signal control unit 1, and the IC card connector 4 is provided with an IC card 5 having a function such as memory or I / O. When (9 in FIG. 2) is connected, the IC card signal control unit 1 generates various signals and controls access to the IC card, so that the IC card 5 mounted on the connector 4 can be accessed. Becomes

On the other hand, considering the case where the HDD card 5 (reference numeral 10 in FIG. 2) is mounted on the connector 4, both the IC card mode of JEIDA / PCMCIA and the HDD card dedicated interface can be realized. Therefore, when the HDD control circuit is mounted on the HDD card side, the selector 3 selects the signal path by the IC card signal control unit 1 and sets the IC card signal control unit 1 to the IC card mode. As a result, the HDD card 5 (reference numeral 10 in FIG. 2) can be accessed. If the HDD control circuit is not mounted in the HDD card, that is, if it is mounted on the main body PCB (reference numeral 7 in FIG. 2), the selector 3 selects the HDD signal control unit 2 and the connector 4 is the HDD. It becomes an interface dedicated to the card, and the HDD card can be accessed.

Next, the mounting structure will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows an example of mounting an IC card / HDD card inside a personal computer. Basically, as shown in Figures (a) to (d), by providing a space (S) that can accommodate a size larger than the card size specified by JEIDA / PCMIA, Both cards (IC card 9 and HDD card 10) can be mounted. Specifically, as shown in, for example, FIGS. (A) to (d), a space (S) is provided between the IC card mounting surface of the PCB 7 and the housing bottom portion or the housing upper portion, and The PCB 7 is cut out to make a space (FIG. 2 (d)). Alternatively, an interface mechanism common to the IC card 9 and the HDD card 10 that easily considers the card mounting space can be obtained by making a part of the housing 6 movable or removable so as to leave a space (FIG. 2B). Is realized.

[0020]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, the standardized IC card and the HDD card (card type hard disk pack) can share the connector, so that it is not necessary to prepare a connector unique to the HDD card. The cost can be reduced with a simple structure. Further, since it is not necessary to prepare separate mounting locations for the IC card and the HDD card, it contributes to the efficiency of the mounting space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a card mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... IC card signal control unit (IC card CONT), 2
... HDD signal control unit (HDD-CONT), 3 ... selector, 4 ... connector, 5 ... mounting card (IC card / HD
D card), 6 ... Personal computer housing, 7 ...
PCB (printed circuit board), 8 ... IC card connector, 9 ... IC card, 10 ... HDD card (card type hard disk pack).

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. In a personal computer having an IC card interface including a card connection connector for connecting an IC card defined by an industry standard, the card connection connector is an IC that conforms to the specified specifications.
Shared with card and card type hard disk pack,
A personal computer comprising a common interface mechanism for the IC card and the card type hard disk pack. 2. An interface mechanism for operating the card-type hard disk pack, which has an interface dedicated to the card-type hard disk pack in addition to the IC card mode defined by the industry standard and has a hard-disk control circuit in the card-type hard disk pack. 2. The personal computer according to claim 1, further comprising means for selecting an IC card mode interface when the personal computer is built in and selecting an interface dedicated to a card type hard disk pack when the HDD control circuit is mounted on the computer main body. Computer.