JPH0561579A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable optical connection and to apply the optical connector to a device in any shape by inserting an optical connector card in an optical card housing part. CONSTITUTION:An optical connector card 2 is equipped with a light emitting/ light receiving element 21 at the head part of a card base 20 and equipped with a cable 22, which is connected to a communication unit, at the rear part. On the other hand, an optical card housing part 14 is provided on the side of a device 1 so as to house the optical connector card 2, the optical card housing part 14 is equipped with a light emitting/light receiving element 15, and the entrance is equipped with a lock mechanism composed of a lock member 16 provided with an inclined part, spring 17 for return and projection 16a of the lock member 16. When the optical connector card 2 is inserted from the entrance of the optical card housing part 14, the lock member 16 is lowered with the insertion of the optical connector card 2, the card 2 is inserted to the housing part 14, and the light emitting/light receiving element 21 of the optical connector card 2 can be optically connected against the light emitting/ light receiving element 15 of the housing part 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

(Table of Contents) Industrial Application Field of the Prior Art (FIGS. 8 and 9) Problem to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problem (FIG. 1) Action Example (a) First Example (FIGS. 2 to 3) (b) Description of the second embodiment (FIG. 4) (c) Description of the third embodiment (FIG. 5) (d) Description of the fourth embodiment (FIG. 6) (E) Description of fifth embodiment (FIG. 7) (f) Description of other embodiment Effects of the invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector for optically connecting a device such as a portable terminal device to a main device such as a communication unit. Mechanical connectors that provide mechanical contact have been widely used to connect devices.

However, mechanical connectors are subject to wear of contacts due to mechanical connection, and especially in devices such as portable devices where connectors are frequently attached and detached, the connection life is limited, which is not preferable.

Therefore, a non-contact connector is preferable,
Optical connectors by optical coupling are used in such mobile terminal devices. This optical connector is desired to be easily attached and detached regardless of the shape of the device.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional portable terminal device, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the conventional technique. The mobile terminal device 1 generates data in inventory management (ordering of products, stocktaking, etc.), production management, root sales, public relations support business of financial institutions (deposit / withdrawal, etc.), or electricity / gas meter reading business. It was developed for the purpose of grasping and collecting at the time.

As shown in FIG. 8, this portable terminal device 1 has an LCD (liquid crystal display) 4 on the outside of a case 4.
a, a keyboard 4b, an interface connector 6 for connecting a bar code reader and the like, and a program card connector 5 for connecting a program card for loading a business-compatible program.
7, a program memory 8a, and a data memory 8b.

This portable terminal device 1 is connected to a host computer (personal computer, office computer, etc.) installed in an office, etc., and the collected data is transferred, analyzed and processed, and subsequent decision making (sales policy decision) , Customer service, etc.).

For this connection, as shown in FIG. 9A, an optical connector 2a is provided on the back surface of the portable terminal device 1,
As shown in FIG. 9 (B), the optical connector 2b and the positioning guide 30 are provided in the communication unit 3 for communicating with the host, and as shown in FIG. 9 (C), the guide 30 of the communication unit 3 is provided as a portable terminal. Set the device 1 and the mobile terminal device 1
The optical connector 2a and the optical connector 2b of the communication unit are opposed to each other for optical connection.

In FIG. 9B, the communication unit 3
Is provided with a connection detection switch 31 for detecting that the mobile terminal device 1 is set, a power lamp 32, and a power switch 33.

As described above, in the conventional optical connector, since the optical connectors 2a and 2b are coupled to each other, the unit 3 needs the guide 30 adapted to the shape of the apparatus 1. or,
As another optical connector, in the conventional mechanical connector shape, a mechanical contact is changed to an optical element, and a guide rod is provided to hold the connection, thereby performing mechanical connection (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 60- 61374).

[0011]

However, the prior art has the following problems. In the former prior art, a guide 30 matched to the shape of the device is required for coupling the optical connectors 2a and 2b. If the shape of the device changes, the guide 30 cannot be used and is not actually used.
It cannot be applied to a device having a flexible shape such as No. 30.

Further, in the former prior art, since the optical connector is exposed, the optical connector 2a becomes dirty and the optical connection function is deteriorated in a case where the optical connector is held and operated like a portable terminal device.

In the latter prior art, since it is necessary to perform mechanical connection by using a guide rod, a certain amount of force is required to attach / detach the optical connector. If the connector is frequently attached / detached, it is not easy to attach / detach. It takes time and effort.

If the guide rod is thin, it may break when it is attached or detached, so that a thick guide rod must be provided, and therefore the guide rod becomes an obstacle in the unit 3 or the device 1. Therefore, the present invention can be used regardless of the shape of the device,
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector that can be easily attached and detached.

[0015]

FIG. 1 shows the principle of the present invention. According to claim 1 of the present invention, the card base 20 is provided with either one or both of a light emitting element or a light receiving element 21 and an optical connector card 2 to which a cable 22 is connected, and either one or both of the light emitting element or the light receiving element 15 Is provided, and the optical card connector 2 is inserted into the optical card housing portion 14 for optical connection.

According to claim 2 of the present invention, in claim 1,
The optical card accommodating portion 14 is provided with lock mechanisms 16 and 17 for the optical connector card 2. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the card base 20 of the optical connector card 2 is provided with a charging terminal 23, and the optical card accommodating portion 14 is provided with the card base 20.
The charging terminal 18 is provided so as to be in contact with the charging terminal 23. According to claim 4 of the present invention, in claim 3,
The card base 20 is provided with a shutter 24 that covers the charging terminal 23 and can be opened and closed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect,
The shutter 24 is provided with a protrusion 25, and the optical card accommodating portion 14 is engaged with the protrusion 25.
And the projection 25 engages with the projection engaging portion 19a in response to the operation of inserting the optical card connector 2 into the optical card housing portion 14, the shutter 24 is opened, and the charging terminal 23 is provided. Is exposed. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the card base 20 is provided with a return spring 28 for the shutter 24.

[0018]

In the first aspect of the present invention, one optical connector is
The card base 20 is provided with either one or both of a light emitting element or a light receiving element, and a cable 22 is connected to form an optical connector card 2, and the other optical connector has either one or both a light emitting element or a light receiving element 15. By configuring the optical card storage unit 14, the optical card storage unit 14
Further, since the optical card connector 2 can be inserted and optically coupled, the optical connection can be performed regardless of the shape of the device.

Further, since the light emitting element or the light receiving element of the optical card accommodating portion 14 is not contaminated by a hand or the like, if the portable device is provided with this, it is possible to prevent deterioration of optical connection characteristics due to contamination. Further, since no guide bar is required, it can be easily attached and detached and does not interfere with the operation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the optical card accommodating portion 1
4, the lock mechanisms 16 and 17 for the optical connector card 2 are provided, so that the mechanical connection becomes more reliable and the cable 22
Even if it is pulled, it will not come off easily.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the card base 20 of the optical connector card 2 is provided with the charging terminal 23, and the optical card accommodating portion 14 is provided with the charging terminal 18 in contact with the charging terminal 23 of the card base 20. Therefore, the portable device or the like can be charged by the optical connector card, and the battery driving device can be easily charged.

According to claim 4 of the present invention, the card base 20
Since the charging terminal 23 is covered with the shutter 24 that can be opened and closed, even if the charging terminal 23 is provided on the optical connector card 2, it does not come into contact with any object to cause a short circuit.

In claim 5 of the present invention, the shutter 24 is
Since the projection 25 is provided and the projection engagement portion 19a that engages with the projection 25 is provided in the optical card housing portion 14, the projection 25 is formed in accordance with the inserting operation of the optical card connector 2 into the optical card housing portion 14. The shutter 24 can be opened to expose the charging terminal 23 by engaging with the protrusion engaging portion 19a, and the charging terminal 23 can be automatically exposed by inserting the optical card connector 2 for charging. Is possible.

According to claim 6 of the present invention, the card base 20
Since the return spring 23 of the shutter 24 is provided in the optical disk connector 2, the shutter 24 causes
The charging terminal 23 can be covered.

[0025]

【Example】

(a) Description of First Embodiment FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a terminal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
As disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 2-32130, this portable terminal device 1 is particularly desired to have an increased memory capacity due to the expansion of the range of use of the portable terminal device, and the advantages of small size and light weight cannot be maintained. It has been devised because it is difficult for an operator such as a woman to operate with one hand.

Explaining with reference to the drawings, a waistcoat-shaped mounting body 13 is provided with a CPU 7, a program memory 8a, a data memory 8b, and a program card connector 5,
A battery 12, a keyboard 4b, and an interface connector 6 are provided in the lower part, and the LCD 4a is connected via a cable 10.
A soft key 4c and a mounting band 11 are provided.

Then, the operator wears this wearing body 13 and attaches the band 11 to the arm to fix the band 11. By doing so, both hands of the operator are free, and while operating the soft keys 4c of the arm while picking up a product etc. by hand, it is possible to input data, and even if a bar code reader is used, one hand is free. Therefore, it becomes possible to handle the product.

Moreover, even if the capacity of the memories 8a and 8b is increased and the weight is increased, the operation can be performed without feeling heavy. In such a mobile terminal device 1, since the mounting body 13 is flexible, even if the optical connector 2a as shown in FIG. 9 is provided, it is set in the communication unit 3 and positioned and held in the optical connector 2b of the communication unit 3. Therefore, the optical connection shown in FIG. 9 cannot be made.

Therefore, the card accommodating portion 14 is provided in the mounting body 13. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention. The optical connector card 2 is provided with a light emitting / receiving element 21 at the tip of a card-shaped card base 20, and a cable 22 connected to the communication unit 3 at the rear.

On the other hand, the optical connector card 2 is provided on the device 1 side.
Is provided, a light emitting / receiving element 15 is provided in the optical card housing 14, and a stop member 16 having an inclined portion at the entrance, a return spring 17, and a protrusion of the stop member 16. 16a is provided.

To connect the connector, the optical connector card 2 is inserted from the entrance of the optical card accommodating portion 14, and the stopper member 16 is lowered by the insertion of the optical connector card 2, and the card 2 is inserted into the accommodating portion 14. As shown in FIG. 3B, the light emitting / receiving element 21 of the optical connector card 2 is
However, it is possible to make an optical connection by facing the light emitting / receiving element 15 of the housing portion 14.

Even in this state, the facing relationship between the light emitting / receiving element 21 of the card 2 and the light emitting / receiving element 15 of the accommodating portion 14 can be maintained, but even if the cable 22 is pulled or the device is tilted, In order to maintain such a facing relationship, the stop member 16 locks the rear end of the card 2.

In this way, the portable terminal device 1 and the communication unit 3 are connected via the optical connectors 2 and 14, and data transfer is performed. Next, to remove Card 2,
Lower the protrusion 16a by hand and attach the stop member 16 to the spring 17
Lower the card against the lock to release the lock and place the card 2 in the storage unit 1.
Just pull out from 4.

In this way, the operator can perform optical connection simply by inserting the optical connector card 2 into the optical card accommodating portion 14 of the device 1, regardless of the shape of the device 1.
Optical connection is possible, and it is easy to attach / detach by only inserting / removing the card, and it is possible to prevent the light emitting / light receiving element 15 on the device 1 side from being soiled.

Since the optical connector card 2 has a card shape, the operator can easily attach and detach the optical connector card 2. In this embodiment, since the light emitting / light receiving elements 21 are provided on the surface of the card base 20 of the optical connector card 2, the required number of light emitting / light receiving elements 21 can be provided at appropriate intervals.

(B) Description of the Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3
The same thing as what is shown by is shown by the same symbol, 23 is a charging terminal, provided on both sides of the card base 20 for supplying a charging voltage, 18 is a charging terminal, The guide rail 19 is formed of a leaf spring and is provided on the guide rail 19 of the optical card housing portion 14. Reference numeral 19 is a guide rail that is provided in the optical card housing portion 14 for guiding the inserted optical connector card 2. is there.

In this embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 3, a charging terminal 23 is provided on the card base 20 so that the battery 12 of the device 1 can be charged from the unit 3 via the optical connector card 2. Is.

That is, by inserting the optical connector card 2 into the optical card accommodating portion 14 while being guided by the guide rail 19, the light emitting / receiving element 21 of the optical connector card 2 is inserted.
However, while facing the light emitting / receiving element 15 of the housing portion 14, optical connection is possible, and the charging terminal 23 of the optical connector card 2 comes into contact with the charging terminal 18 of the guide rail 19,
The device 1 can be charged from the optical connector card 2 side. In this way, when the optical connector card 2 is inserted into the card housing portion 14 of the device 1 for data communication, the battery 12 of the device 1 is automatically charged.

(C) Description of Third Embodiment FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are shown by the same symbols, and 24 is a shutter, which covers the charging terminal 23 and can be opened and closed, and 25 is a projection of the shutter 24. And 19a is a projection engaging portion of the guide rail 19,
It is composed of a stepped portion.

In this embodiment, the charging terminal 23 of the card 2 is
If it is exposed, there is a risk of touching any object and causing a short circuit to ignite, so the charging terminal 23 is covered by the shutter 24 when not connected.

The shutter 24 may be opened by hand when inserting the card, and may be closed by hand after removing the card.
The projection 24 is provided on the shutter 24, and when the card 2 is inserted, the projection 25 is caught by the projection engaging portion 19 a provided on the guide rail 19 of the optical card housing portion 14, and the shutter 24
5 is slid to expose the charging terminal 23 as shown in FIG. 5 (B) to enable charging. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the thickness of the charging terminal 23 is increased and an engaging portion is provided at an end portion of the U-shaped shutter 24, the shutter 24 is released.
Does not come off.

(D) Description of Fourth Embodiment FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are indicated by the same symbols, 26 is an inner protrusion, which is provided in the shutter 24, and 27 is a spring accommodating portion. It is provided in the card base 20 and accommodates the recovery spring 28.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
With respect to the card base 20, the inner protrusion 26 of the shutter 24
However, the recovery spring 28 is provided in the spring accommodating portion 27 so as to press the recovery spring 28, and the opened shutter 24 is automatically recovered according to the removal of the card 2.

In this example, as described above with reference to FIG. 5, when the card 2 is inserted, the shutter 2 is inserted into the projection engaging portion 19a provided on the guide rail 19 of the optical card accommodating portion 14.
The projection 25 of No. 4 is caught, the shutter 24 is slid, and the charging terminal 23 is exposed as shown in FIG. 6 (C) to enable charging.

At this time, the inner projection 26 of the shutter 24 presses the restoration spring 28 in the spring accommodating portion 27 of the card base 20 by the sliding movement of the shutter 24 to contract it.

Next, when the card 2 is pulled out from the optical card storage portion 14, the restoring force of the restoration spring 28 causes the inner protrusion 26 of the shutter 24 to move to the left side in the drawing in the spring storage portion 27 of the card base 20. By pressing, the shutter 24 is slid to the left in the drawing to return it to the original position in FIG. 6B, and the charging terminal 23 is covered.

In this way, when the card 2 is inserted into the optical card storage portion 14, the shutter 24 slides to the right in the figure to expose the charging terminal 23 and enable charging.
When the card 2 is pulled out from the optical card storage portion 14, the shutter 24 slides to the left in the drawing to cover the charging terminal 23 and prevent a short circuit or the like.

(E) Description of the Fifth Embodiment FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 8 and 3 are designated by the same symbols. In this example, the mobile terminal device 1 of FIG.
The one to which the optical connector such as is applied is shown.

That is, instead of the optical connector 2a, the portable terminal device 1 of FIG. 8 is provided with the optical card housing 14 having the light emitting / receiving element 15, and the optical connector card 2 connected to the communication unit 3 by the cable 22. The optical card housing 14
Light emitting / receiving element 21 of the optical connector card 2
And the light emitting / receiving element 15 of the optical card accommodating portion 14 are opposed to each other to perform optical connection and perform data communication.

At this time, similarly, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the charging terminal 23 is provided on the optical connector card 2, and the battery 12 of the portable terminal device 1 is provided from the communication unit 3 through the optical connector card 2 and the optical card accommodating portion 14. To charge.

(F) Description of Other Embodiments In addition to the above embodiments, the present invention can be modified as follows. The light emitting / light receiving element 21 of the optical connector card 2 may be only the light emitting element or only the light receiving element,
Any number of combinations of light emitting elements and light receiving elements may be used.

The charging terminal 23 of the optical connector card 2 is
As shown in FIG. 5C, the front surface, the side surface, and the back surface are formed in a continuous shape; however, the shutter may be provided on any one of the front surface, the side surface, and the back surface, or two. 24
Can be applied.

Although the device 1 has been described with reference to the portable terminal device shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, it can be applied to other devices such as a portable personal computer and a word processor, and the device to which the cable 22 is connected will be described with the communication unit 3. However, it may be another device such as a personal computer.

Although the optical connector card 2 has a rectangular shape, it may have another shape. Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It has the following effects. Since one optical connector is an optical connector card and the other optical connector is an optical card accommodating portion, optical connection can be made by inserting the optical connector card into the optical card accommodating portion. It can also be applied to devices.

By inserting the optical connector card into the optical card accommodating portion, an optical connection can be made, so that the attachment / detachment can be smoothly and easily performed. Since the light-emitting / light-receiving element of the optical card housing on the device side is inside, the light-emitting / light-receiving element does not get dirty even if it is a portable type held by the device, and data communication errors due to performance deterioration are prevented. It can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a terminal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional mobile terminal device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Mobile Terminal Device 2 Optical Connector Card 3 Communication Unit 14 Optical Card Housing 15 Light-Emitting / Light-Receiving Element 16 Stopping Member (Lock Mechanism) 18 Charging Terminal 19 Guide Rail 20 Card Base 21 Light-Emitting / Light-Receiving Element 22 Cable 23 Charging Terminal 24 Shutter 25 Protrusion 28 Recovery spring

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical connector card (2) in which a card base (20) is provided with either or both of a light emitting element and a light receiving element and a cable (22) is connected, and either a light emitting element or a light receiving element. An optical card accommodating portion (14) having one or both (15) is provided, and the optical card connector (2) is inserted into the optical card accommodating portion (14) for optical connection. connector. 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical card housing (14) is provided with a lock mechanism (16, 17) for the optical connector card (2). 3. A charging terminal (23) is provided on a card base (20) of the optical connector card (2), and the card base (2) is provided on the optical card accommodating portion (14).
The optical connector according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a charging terminal (18) which is in contact with the charging terminal (23) of (0). 4. The optical connector according to claim 3, wherein the card base (20) is provided with a shutter (24) which covers the charging terminal (23) and can be opened and closed. 5. A projection (25) on the shutter (24).
A protrusion engaging portion (19a) that engages with the protrusion (25) is provided in the optical card housing portion (14), and the optical card connector (2) to the optical card housing portion (14) is provided. According to the inserting operation, the projection (25) engages with the projection engagement portion (19a), and the shutter (2)
4. The optical connector according to claim 4, wherein 4) is opened to expose the charging terminal (23). 6. The optical connector according to claim 5, wherein the card base (20) is provided with a spring (28) for returning the shutter (24).