JPH0896108A - Card-type electronic device mounting method and card-type electronic device case - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent destruction due to bending stress by dividing card type electronic equipment into plural blocks at need and connecting the divided blocks electrically and mechanically in a bendable state. CONSTITUTION: The electronic circuit 31 of the memory card is divided into the electronic circuits 32-1 and 32-2 and the substrate on which they are mounted is also divided in two. Further, the housing which contains the substrate is divided into substrate storage parts 12-1 and 12-2. Then, the substrate storage parts 12-1 and 12-2 are connected to each other with a coupling part 13 formed out of a bendable member. Consequently, the destruction due to bending stress is prevented and the ease of handling in portage can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of mounting a card type electronic device such as a PC card, an IC card and a memory card, and a case of the electronic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, memory cards, modem cards, F
Card-type electronic devices (PC cards) are rapidly becoming popular mainly in computer peripherals such as AX cards and disk cards. As for the standard, the standards in Japan and the US such as PCMCIA standard (US) and JEIDA standard (JP) are substantial.

This mounting method and structure generally include (1) mounting an electronic circuit (including an external connection connector) for realizing a device on a printed circuit board, as reported in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-282507. , (2) fixing the printed circuit board to the frame, (3) attaching protective panels from the top and bottom (front and back), etc.
mm, 5.0 mm, 10.0 mm). Moreover, it is usually impossible to bend.

As a known example of a foldable memory card, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-342844 is disclosed.
In the present invention, folding is realized by dividing the device into two halves and connecting the two single bodies by a method applying a hinge.

Card-type electronic equipment is lightweight and compact,
Since it is ultra-thin, it has the advantages that it does not take up storage space and is easy to carry.

[0006]

As described above, the card type electronic device does not occupy a storage space, is easy to carry,
Although it has advantages such as, it is weak against bending stress and easily broken because it is thin. For example, if the device is stored in a trouser pocket or the like, there is a problem that the protective panel or frame of the device is bent and the printed circuit board housed inside is destroyed.

According to the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-342844, it is normally folded when it is carried. In the folded state, not only the thickness of the device doubles, but also bending stress is unavoidable. If the thickness doubles, it may not fit in the same space. For example,
It is considered that the pants cannot be stored in the back pocket or the trousers are subjected to a stronger stress, which may cause a failure of the device. Further, the joint portion itself cannot be bent, and if a bending stress is applied to it, it will be broken. Moreover, with this method, folding is the limit.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the card type electronic device is divided into a plurality of blocks as required. The divided blocks are connected to each other so that the adjacent blocks can be folded. For electronic circuits that realize the equipment, use bendable cables,
Electrically coupled. Further, the frame, the panel and the like are mechanically connected using a bendable member.

In this way, it is possible to prevent the breakage due to the bending stress and to improve the easiness of handling (reliability) when carrying.

However, when it is mounted on a mounting portion of an applied device (for example, a personal computer), there is a risk that it may hinder handling. Therefore, a dedicated case for prohibiting the bending of the card-type electronic device only when it is mounted on the application device is used. At the time of use, the card-type electronic device is mounted in a dedicated case, and the card-type electronic device is mounted in the applied device in a state in which bending of the card-type electronic device is prohibited.

[0011]

It is known that a plate-shaped object having a smaller plane area can endure a larger bending stress if the plate-shaped object has the same quality and the same thickness. The present invention applies this principle. First, the area of the portion that cannot be bent by dividing the block is reduced to improve durability against bending stress.

Next, a bendable member is used to electrically and mechanically connect the blocks so that the original function of the device is not lost by the division. Furthermore, the bendable connecting portion absorbs the bending stress applied to the entire device.

Also, the card-type electronic equipment is prohibited from being bent by a dedicated case, and the handling during use is facilitated.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a method for mounting a card type electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In the present embodiment, in order to make the description easy to understand, as a typical example of a card-type electronic device, a memory card which is most popular at present is taken and divided into two blocks. The number of divisions and the shape are not particularly limited, and may be within a range that does not cause any problem in realizing the device.

First, a memory card, which is a typical example of card-type electronic equipment, will be briefly described. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an electronic circuit that realizes the memory card.

Connector (same as connector 14 in FIG. 1) 3
4 is used for connection with the outside. The battery 39 supplies power for backing up the information stored in the storage circuit 38. The control circuit 35 controls the entire memory card, such as writing and reading in the storage circuit 38 or updating information in the attribute storage circuit 37, according to access from the outside. The attribute storage circuit 37 stores attributes related to the memory card such as the storage capacity of the storage circuit, the type of memory card, format information, date and time of battery replacement, and is normally electrically rewritable and requires a power source to hold the stored information. Not used semiconductor memory (EEPROM, FRAM, etc.) is used. The storage circuit 38 stores information in order to realize the main function of the memory card, and is an electrically rewritable semiconductor memory (SRAM) in the present embodiment.
It is not particularly limited.

The power supply circuit 36 supplies operating power to the entire memory card 31. At this time, the connector 3
When the external power is supplied through 4 (in operation), the external power is used, and when the external power is not supplied, the battery 39 is used to back up the information stored in the storage circuit 38. Select the power supply source to use. Further, the power supplied to the inside of the memory card 31 is stabilized (constant voltage).

The power line 310 serves as an external power source for the power circuit 36.
The power line 311 connects the battery 39 and the power supply circuit 36. Further, the internal power supply line 312 is connected to the power supply circuit 3
6 is a wiring for supplying power to the electronic circuit 32-1.
Similarly, the internal power supply line 313 is a wire that supplies power from the power supply circuit 36 to the electronic circuit 32-2.

The signal line 314 is connected through the connector 34 to
It is a signal line for inputting / outputting a signal to / from the control circuit 35 from the outside. The signal line 315 is an internal bus of the control circuit 35, and the attribute storage circuit 37 and the storage circuit 38 are connected to it.

Next, the division of the electronic circuit will be described.

The entire electronic circuit 31 constituting the memory card is divided according to the block division (two divisions) of the memory card.
It is divided into electronic circuits 32-1 and 32-2. The electronic circuit 32-1 includes a memory circuit 38, an internal bus 22, and an internal power supply line 313. Similarly, the electronic circuit 32-2 includes a connector 34, a control circuit 35, and a power supply circuit 3.
6, attribute storage circuit 37, battery 39, external power supply line 310 and battery power supply line 311, signal line 31
4, the internal bus 315.

When the electronic circuit 31 is disassembled in this manner, it becomes necessary to electrically connect the respective circuit blocks. In the case of the present embodiment, the connection circuit 33 connects the electronic circuit 32-1 and the electronic circuit 32-2. This connection cable includes an internal bus 315 and an internal power supply line 3
13 are included.

An embodiment of a mounting method for a card type electronic device according to the present invention will be described based on the above division of the electronic circuit.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a card type electronic device constructed by a mounting method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2
The sectional view which follows the AA line in FIG. 1 is shown.

As described above, in this embodiment, the entire memory card 11 is divided into two blocks. Therefore,
The electronic circuit 31 is divided into two electronic circuits 32-1 and 32-2, the board on which they are mounted is also divided into two, and the housing (frame and protective panel (not shown)) that houses the board is also divided into two. Divide it into a board storage part.

In FIG. 1, (a) is a view of the card-type electronic device 11 according to the present invention as seen from the front panel direction, (b) is a view as seen from the connector direction, and (c) is a view as seen from the side. .

Substrates (21-1 and 21-2 described later) on which electronic circuits 32-1 and 32-2 are separately mounted are accommodated and fixed in the substrate accommodating portions 12-1 and 12-2. The board housing portions 12-1 and 12-2 are connected by a connecting portion 13 made of a bendable member. The board housing portions 12-1 and 12-2 must protect the board and the electronic components (electrically electronic circuits) mounted on the board. Therefore, the structure and material must be such that the internal board is not deformed and no force is applied to the parts on the board against external force such as pressing force and bending stress.

The electronic circuit 32 is provided in the mounting space 22-1 of the board 21-1 housed in the board housing portion 12-1.
The electronic components that make up -1 are mounted. Electronic components that form the electronic circuit 32-2 are mounted in the mounting space 22-2 of the board 21-2 housed in the board housing portion 12-2.

The board 21-1 and the board 21-2 are electrically and mechanically connected by a connection cable 23 (electrically, the connection cable 33 in FIG. 3).

As described above, this connection cable 1
3 needs to be a bendable material. For example,
It may be composed of a flexible cable, heat seal, electric wire, or the like.

Inside the connecting portion 13, the connecting cable 2
3 (electrically, the cable 23 of FIG. 3) is mounted. Like the connection cable 33, the connecting portion 13 also needs to be made of a bendable material. Moreover, for example, a rubber-like material is the most suitable, and it returns to its original state when the bending stress is removed, and it returns to its original state. Good.

The connector 14 is for connecting the internal electronic circuit 31 and an external application device to enable the memory card 11, and is electrically connected to the connector 34 of the electronic circuit 31 in FIG. Correspondingly, the connector 14 is fixed to the board housing portion 12-2.

In this way, the card type electronic device 11 as shown in FIG. 1 can be realized by the mounting method which prevents the damage due to the bending stress. In the case of the present embodiment, the configuration of the substrate accommodated in the substrate accommodating portion is single-sided mounting, and the number of substrates accommodated is one. These are not particularly limited, and there is no problem even if the structure of the board is double-sided mounting or a plurality of boards are mounted.

FIG. 4 shows a card-type electronic device constructed by another mounting method according to the present invention. In this example, the entire device 41 is divided into three blocks. Substrates on which the electronic circuit divided into three are mounted are respectively accommodated in the three substrate accommodating portions 42-1, 42-2 and 42-3. The board housing portion 42-1 and the board housing portion 42-2 are connected by the connecting portion 43-1, and similarly, the board housing portion 42-2 and the board housing portion 42-3 are joined together.
The card-type electronic device 41 is configured by connecting at -2.

FIG. 5 shows a card type electronic device constructed by still another mounting method according to the present invention. In this example, the entire device 51 is divided into four blocks. Four board storage parts 52-1, 52-2, 52-3
Substrates 52-4 each accommodate a board on which an electronic circuit divided into four parts is mounted. Board storage part 52
-1 and the substrate storage portion 52-2 are connected by the connection portion 53-1, the substrate storage portion 52-1 and the substrate storage portion 52-3 are connected by the connection portion 53-4, and the substrate storage portion 52-2 and the substrate The card-type electronic device 5 is formed by connecting the storage portion 52-4 with the connecting portion 53-2 and similarly connecting the board storing portion 52-3 and the board storing portion 52-4 with the connecting portion 53-3.
1 is configured.

Next, the case of the card type electronic device according to the present invention will be described.

The card type electronic device has a high degree of freedom in bending in order to prevent damage due to external force (bending stress) when being carried. However, when used (when mounted on an applied device), it is easier to consider it as a single plate-shaped object. Bending may be an obstacle. In such a case, a case in which bending of the card-type electronic device realized by the mounting method according to the present invention is prohibited may be used.

FIG. 6 shows a case of the card type electronic device 11 shown in FIG. 1 as an example of the card of the card type electronic device according to the present invention. In FIG. 6, (a) is a view of the case 61 according to the present invention as seen from the front side, (b) is a view as seen from the connector side, and (c) is a side view.

Further, FIG. 8 shows a state where the card type electronic device 11 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted in the case 61 of the card type electronic device shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the card type electronic device 11 is inserted and mounted from the front direction of FIG.
Although it is mounted on the application device in the state as shown in FIG. 8, at this time, a force necessary for insertion / removal is applied to the connector portion of the card type electronic device. Therefore, the two board housing portions 12-1 and 12-2 must be structured so as to be independently fixed. In the case of this embodiment,
Protrusions 62-1 and 62-2 on the inner side surface of the case 61
Plays that role. In addition, the attachment / detachment hole 63 is formed in the case 6
The card type electronic device 11 can be easily removed from the card 1.

The method of mounting the case 61 and the case 6
The structure of 1 is not particularly limited. For example, FIG.
(A) The structure may be such that it is inserted from above, or that the card-type electronic device is sandwiched between cases.

FIG. 7 shows a case of the card type electronic device 51 shown in FIG. 5 as an embodiment of the card of the card type electronic device according to the present invention. 7, (a) is a view of the case 71 according to the present invention as viewed from the front side, (b) is a view as seen from the connector direction, and (c) is a view as seen from the side. Further, in FIG. 9, the card-type electronic device 51 shown in FIG.
9 is attached to the case 71 of the card-type electronic device shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the connector 5 of the card type electronic equipment 51 shown in FIG.
4-1 and 54-2 are not used directly, but the connector conversion part 73 is provided in the case 71, and the connector 7 of the case 71 is provided.
4 shows an embodiment in which the connection between the outside and the card-type electronic device 51 is realized through the connection 4. This is an embodiment necessary for conforming the whole of the card type electronic equipment 51 to the standard with the case 71 mounted. Naturally, when the card-type electronic device 51 is attached to the case 71 and conforms to the standard, the size of the card-type electronic device 51 becomes smaller than the standard.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
The structure is such that the card type electronic device 51 is inserted and mounted from above in (a). As shown in FIG.
When the card type electronic device 51 is attached to the case 71, the electronic circuits of the card type electronic device 51 are connected by the connectors 54-1 and 54-2 of the card type electronic device and the connection pins 72-1 and 72-2 of the case. The connector 74 of the case 71 is connected via the connector conversion portion 73.

The card type electronic device as shown in FIG. 9 is mounted on the application device in a state where it is mounted on the case 71, and the application device and the connector 74 of the case 71 are connected. Further, when the card type electronic device as shown in FIG. 9 is mounted in the case 71, the card type electronic device must have a structure for preventing the card type electronic device from coming off in the front direction of FIG. 9A. I won't. In the case of the present embodiment, the guide rails 75-1 and 75-2 of the case 71 play that role. The card type electronic device has guide grooves (not shown) for the guide rails 75-1 and 75-2. The method of mounting the case 71 and the structure of the case 71 are not particularly limited. For example, the structure may be such that the entire case is covered.

In the above-mentioned two embodiments, when conforming to the standard, the size may conform to the standard with the card type electronic device mounted in the case. In addition, the function of preventing mounting in the opposite direction is very important. There is a method of making the protrusions of FIG. 5 asymmetrical in the left-right or up-down direction, a method of making the guide rails of FIG. 6 asymmetrical in the left-right direction, and the like.

[0046]

According to the present invention, by adopting a bendable structure, it is possible to prevent the card type electronic device from being broken due to a bending stress, and it becomes easy to handle when carrying it.

Further, by the case where the bending of the card type electronic device is prohibited, the same handling as the conventional card type electronic device can be realized and the handling at the time of use becomes easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a three-view drawing of a card-type electronic device to which an embodiment of a mounting method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

3 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit of the card-type electronic device (memory card) of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a three-sided view of a card-type electronic device to which another embodiment of the mounting method of the invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a trihedral view of a card-type electronic device to which another embodiment of the mounting method of the present invention is applied.

6 is a three-view drawing of one embodiment of the case of the card-type electronic device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a three-view drawing of one embodiment of the case of the card-type electronic device shown in FIG.

8 is a trihedral view showing a state where the card-type electronic device of FIG. 1 is mounted in the case of FIG.

9 is a trihedral view showing a state where the card type electronic device of FIG. 5 is mounted in the case of FIG. 7.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Card-type electronic equipment, 12-1 to 12-2 ... Board storage portion, 13 ... Connection portion, 14 ... Connector.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location G11C 5/00 301 A

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus as a whole is divided into two blocks, an electronic circuit corresponding to each block is independently mounted on a substrate corresponding to each block, and the substrate is a substrate housing portion corresponding to each block. In the card-type electronic device, wherein the blocks are formed by independently storing the blocks, and the blocks are connected by a connecting portion that electrically and mechanically connects the blocks. A mounting method for a card-type electronic device, which is configured by a possible member, and prevents the card-type electronic device from being broken by bending stress. 2. The entire device is divided into three or more blocks, electronic circuits corresponding to the respective blocks are independently mounted on a substrate corresponding to each block, and the substrate is a substrate corresponding to each block. In a card-type electronic device that is configured by independently accommodating the accommodating portion to configure a block and by coupling adjacent blocks with a coupling portion that electrically and mechanically couples the blocks, A method for mounting a card-type electronic device, comprising a bendable member, and preventing the card-type electronic device from being damaged by a bending stress. 3. The card type electronic device case according to claim 1, wherein the card type electronic device constructed by the mounting method can be mounted, and the bending of the card type electronic device is prohibited when the card type electronic device is mounted. 4. The case of a card type electronic device according to claim 3, which has a function of preventing reverse mounting of the card type electronic device.