JPH0327415A - Memory card holder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use RAM in a semiconductor memory in a memory card and to miniaturize a built-in secondary battery by providing a DC power supply part and attaining charge for the stored memory card. CONSTITUTION:The memory card 9 after it is used is inserted into a card storage part 3 in a card holder 1 from the side of secondary battery charge terminals 10a and 10b to completely insert it to the bottom. Consequently, the charge terminals 10a and 10b are brought into contact with electrodes 11a and 11b, a DC voltage is applied from a battery 7 in a power supply storage part 4, the secondary battery in the memory card 9 is charged and the memory content of the semiconductor memory in the card 9 is backed up. Thus, RAM in the semiconductor memory can be used, the built-in secondary battery is miniaturized and the memory card 9 is made much more compact.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a memory card holder, and more particularly to a memory card holder suitable for storing a memory card with a built-in rechargeable battery.

<Prior Art> In recent years, in various fields such as medical care and service industries, memory cards incorporating semiconductor memory with a significantly large storage capacity are being put into practical use in place of conventional magnetic cards. Furthermore, still video cameras have recently been developed that convert optical image signals from a subject into electrical image signals and store them in a recording medium, and memory cards with built-in semiconductor memory are also used as image recording media for such still video cameras. It is proposed to use .

Such memory cards have built-in semiconductor memory with RA
M, EPROM and EEPROM are used. In devices that use RAM, a battery is used to house a backup battery as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-305682, so that the memory contents can be retained even when the memory card is removed from the device. A device in which the storage section is integrated with the card has been proposed. In addition, there are products with a built-in thin lithium battery and those with a usage time of 2
There are also models with built-in rechargeable batteries that can last up to 3 hours.

<Problem to be solved by the invention> However, when the memory is EPROM or EEPRO
Those using M do not require a backup power source, but have a smaller memory capacity than RAM, which is a fatal drawback for image memories that require a large memory capacity.

In addition, the above disadvantages can be overcome by using a RAM with a large memory capacity, but a backup power source is required, and for this reason, if the battery compartment is integrated, the memory card will be large due to the shape of the battery compartment. The advantage of memory cards, which is that they can be easily carried, is lost.

Furthermore, when replacing the battery, there is also the problem that the memory contents must be transferred to another memory card or the like.

In addition, with a built-in secondary battery, there is no need to replace the battery and there is no need to move the memory contents, but the backup time is short and it is not possible to leave the device unattended for a long time after use. There is a drawback.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and allows the use of RAM as a semiconductor memory. Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of a memory card with a built-in secondary battery that does not require battery replacement, and to expand the range of applications of the memory card.

<Means for Solving the Problems> For this reason, the present invention provides a memory card holder for storing a memory card with a built-in secondary battery, which makes contact with the secondary battery charging terminal provided on the memory card when the memory card is inserted. An electrode is provided in the card storage part, and a DC power supply part is connected to the electrode.

<Operation> According to the above structure, by inserting the memory card into the card storage portion of the card holder, the electrodes in the holder automatically come into contact with the secondary battery charging terminal of the memory card. Therefore, if the memory card is removed from the device and inserted into the holder after use, the secondary battery inside the memory card can be maintained in a charged state at all times by the DC power supply provided on the holder side, even when the memory card is removed from the device. Memory contents can be retained for a long time.

<Example> Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the first embodiment of the present invention,
The card holder 1 of this embodiment has a box-like shape with an opening on the top surface, and inside there are a plurality of card storage sections 3, for example, five, separated by a partition wall 2, and a dry cell storage section as a DC power supply section for storing dry cell batteries 7. The upper opening can be closed with a lid 6 rotatably supported by a hinge part 5. The lid 6 has an engaging portion 6a that engages with a protrusion 8 formed on the upper end of the card holder 1. It goes without saying that the dry battery storage section 4 can be freely opened and closed by an opening/closing lid (not shown), so that the dry batteries can be replaced. Further, in this embodiment, an example of AA batteries is shown, but if a lithium battery is used, the card holder 1 can be further miniaturized.

At the inner bottom of the card storage section 3, there are secondary battery charging terminals 10a, 1 provided on the outer surface of the memory card 9 for charging a secondary battery (not shown) built into the memory card 9.
Electrodes 11a and llb that contact 0b are fixed to the partition wall 2. The electrodes 11a and llb are connected to electrodes 13a and 13b provided inside the dry cell storage section 4 through lead wires 12. In addition, in FIG. 2, 14 is the memory card 9.
The memory card 9 is fixed to the partition wall 2 in the same manner as the electrodes 11a and 1lb by a holding spring for evenly holding the memory card 9 in the card storage part 3 when the memory card 9 is inserted into the card storage part 3.

According to this configuration, after use, the memory card 9 is inserted into the card storage section 3 of the card holder 1 through the secondary battery charging terminal 1.
Insert from the 0a and 10b sides and completely insert it to the bottom of the card storage section 3. As a result, the charging terminals 10a, 10b come into contact with the electrodes 11a, llb, and DC voltage is supplied from the dry cell battery 7 in the power supply storage section 4, and the secondary battery in the memory card 9 is charged, and the semiconductor inside the card 9 is charged. The memory contents of the memory are backed up. Therefore, with such a card holder 1, in a memory card with a built-in secondary battery that uses RAM as a semiconductor memory, the built-in primary battery can be downsized, and the memory card 9 can be made even more compact. Become.

Furthermore, the elastic force of the electrodes tta, ttb and the holding spring 14 holds the memory card 9 firmly in the card storage portion 3, so that it does not wobble. Furthermore, by closing the lid 6, the memory card 9 can be completely inserted, so that the memory card 9 is not inserted incompletely, that is, the charging terminals 10a, 10b do not contact the electrodes 11a, llb. , an accident in which memory contents are lost due to discharge of the secondary battery in the card 9 can be reliably prevented.

Although the first embodiment described above shows one that can accommodate a plurality of memory cards 9, it is convenient to carry if it can accommodate one memory card 9 as in the second embodiment shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the retaining portion 6a of the lid 6 has a spring property and is attached to the card holder 1.
It is configured so that it can be fixed to the upper end of the body using its spring force.

The third embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is designed to be able to store a large number of memory cards, and a notch 2a is provided at the center of the upper end of the partition wall 2 that partitions the card storage section 3, so that the stored memory cards can be pulled out. I've made it easier. Further, it is configured to have an AC-DC converter built-in so that power can be supplied from an external commercial power source through the outlet 15. In this case, by incorporating a rechargeable rechargeable battery, it becomes possible to travel for a long time.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a lock claw 21 for locking the inserted memory card 9 is provided on the upper part of the card storage section 3 of the card holder 1.

That is, the lock pawl 2 is rotatably supported on the pin 22.
1 is always held in the state shown in FIG. 5 by a spring 23 via a lever 24 that is integrated with the lock pawl 21. Further, a plate spring 25 is provided at the bottom of the card storage section 3.

According to this structure, when the memory card 9 is inserted, the insertion tip of the card 9 hits the arc-shaped portion of the upper end of the lock claw 21. When the memory card 9 is further pushed in, the locking claw 2l rotates clockwise in the figure about the pin 22 against the elastic force of the spring 23 due to the pushing force.

As a result, the memory card 9 is inserted into the card storage section 3, and when the memory card 9 reaches the insertion completion position, the lock pawl 21 automatically returns due to the elastic force of the spring 23, and the memory card 9 is inserted as shown in the figure. Engage the top end. In this state, the leaf spring 25 is receiving a pressing force from the memory card 9. Therefore, by removing the lock claw 2l, the memory card 9 is automatically pushed up from the card storage portion 3 by the elastic force of the leaf spring 25, and the memory card 9 can be easily taken out.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, according to the present invention, the memory card storage holder is equipped with a DC power supply section and is configured to charge the stored memory card. RAM can be used, and the built-in secondary battery can be made smaller. Therefore, it is effective in expanding the field of application of memory cards more than ever before.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the memory card and electrodes of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the second embodiment of the present invention. 4 is an external view showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A memory card holder for storing a memory card with a built-in secondary battery, the electrode being in contact with the secondary battery charging terminal provided on the memory card when the memory card is inserted.
A memory card holder comprising a DC power supply section provided in the card storage section and connected to the electrode.