JPH0651866A - Data storage device and ic card type connection adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a computer applied equipment compact, to reduce cost and to provide the data storage device which improves performance corresponding to comparatively higher price. CONSTITUTION:This data storage device externally attached to the computer applied equipment is provided with an IC card type connection adapter 3 and a data storage means 2 provided in inside a case 1, and the IC card type connection adapter 3 is connected to a slot for IC card provided at the computer applied equipment so as to connect the data storage means 2 to the computer applied equipment. Further, the IC card type connection adapter 3 incorporates an IC memory 8 at least, can be attached and detached to the enclosure 1 and is added a function for enabling independent use as the IC card.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data storage device externally attached to a computer application device such as a personal computer, a word processor, and a video game machine, and an IC card type connection adapter for connecting the data storage device to the computer application device. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a computer application device such as a personal computer has a built-in data storage device such as a floppy disk drive (FDD) or a magnetic tape drive for storing data files or exchanging data files with other devices. Has been done.

In recent years, as computer-applied devices such as personal computers have become smaller, IC cards have tended to be used in portable computer-applied devices instead of the FDD, and the FDD has been used as a portable computer-applied device. It is getting attached more often.

[0004]

Therefore, an expensive IC card is adopted by adopting the method of connecting the external type data storage device to the computer application device by utilizing the existing IC card slot in the computer application device. It is possible to use a relatively inexpensive storage medium such as a floppy disk (FD) or a magnetic tape instead of.

Therefore, an IC card type connection adapter,
A data storage device that includes data storage means and can connect the data storage means to the computer application device by inserting the IC card type connection adapter into an existing IC card slot of the computer application device is conceivable.

However, in the case of such a configuration, there is a problem that the price becomes higher than that in the case where the computer application equipment is provided with the external dedicated connector and the data storage device is connected to the computer application equipment. .

Further, as described above, the IC card is expensive and is not suitable for storing a large amount of data, and the floppy disk (FD) is inexpensive and suitable for storing a large amount of data. It is necessary to provide a dedicated connector for external attachment to computer application equipment,
There has been a problem that it is an obstacle to downsizing and cost reduction of the computer application device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. A first object of the present invention is to contribute to downsizing and cost reduction of computer-applied equipment, and to improve performance at a high price. To provide a data storage device.

A second object of the present invention is that the data storage device can be externally attached to the computer application device without providing a dedicated connector for attaching the computer application device to the computer application device. It is to provide an IC card type connection adapter that can contribute to downsizing and cost reduction.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, a first invention of the present invention is to provide an IC card type connection adapter and a housing in a data storage device externally attached to a computer application device. And an internal data storage means, which is configured so that the data storage means can be connected to the computer application device by inserting the IC card type connection adapter into an existing IC card slot of the computer application device. The IC card type connection adapter is characterized in that it has at least an IC memory built-in, is attachable to and detachable from the housing, and has the function of being independently used as an IC card.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned second object, the second invention of the present invention is substantially the same as an IC card which can be inserted into an existing IC card slot in a computer application device to which a data storage device is externally attached. -Shaped IC card type connection adapter body, and the IC provided on the adapter body
It is characterized by comprising a first connector terminal connected to a connector terminal in the card slot and a second connector terminal provided on the adapter body and connected to a connector terminal of the data storage device. .

In order to achieve the first object, the data file can be transferred in at least one direction between the IC memory in the IC card type connection adapter and the data storage means. It is desirable to include a switch for operating the transfer of the data file, or at least an information display unit for displaying the transfer status of the data file.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the second connector terminal can be selectively connected to connector terminals of a plurality of types of data storage devices, or the adapter body can be provided with at least an IC memory. By incorporating
It is desirable to add a function that can be used independently as an IC card.

[0014]

In the data storage device of the first invention, the IC card type connection adapter is inserted into the existing IC card slot of the computer application device so that the computer application device is externally attached without providing an external dedicated connector. be able to.

Further, by removing the IC card type connection adapter from the housing, the IC card type connection adapter can be used as an independent IC card, and the IC card type connection adapter can be utilized for various purposes.

In the IC card type connection adapter of the second invention, the first connector terminal is connected to the connector terminal in the IC card slot of the computer application device, and the second connector terminal is connected to the connector terminal of the data storage device. Thus, the data storage device can be externally attached to the computer application device without providing an external dedicated connector to the computer application device.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a data storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing, inside which a data storage means 2 is provided. Has been. The data storage means 2 comprises a floppy disk drive (FDD) or magnetic tape drive. When the data storage means 2 is a floppy disk drive, there is an advantage that a large amount of data can be stored at low cost. Further, when the data storage means 2 is a magnetic tape drive, there is an advantage that a large amount of data can be stored in one roll of magnetic tape at low cost.

An IC card type connection adapter 3 is provided outside one side of the housing 1. This IC card type connection adapter 3 is an IC already installed in a computer application device (not shown) such as a personal computer to which the apparatus is externally attached as shown in FIG.
IC card (not shown) that can be inserted into the card slot
An IC card type connection adapter body 4 having substantially the same shape as that of the first embodiment, and a first provided at one end of the adapter body 4 and connected to a connection terminal (not shown) in the IC card slot.
A connector terminal 5 and a sheet-like connection cable 6 provided at the other end of the adapter body 4 and extending to the outside of the housing 1.
Data storage means 2 via the connector terminal 6a at the front edge of the
2 and a second connector terminal 7 connected to the adapter main body 4 and an IC memory 8 built in the adapter body 4.

In such a configuration, the first connector terminal 5 of the IC card type connection adapter 3 is connected to the connector terminal in the IC card slot already installed in a computer application device such as a personal computer (not shown), and the second connector terminal 7 is connected to the connector terminal. It connects to the data storage means 2 via the connector terminal 6a of the connection cable 6 and the connection cable 6, respectively.

As a result, the computer application device and the data storage means 2 are connected to each other, and the data file can be transferred between the computer application device and the data storage means 2.

By inserting the first connector terminal 5 side of the connection cable 6 into the IC card slot of the computer application device, the IC card type connection adapter 3 can be used independently as an IC card. The functions and applications of the IC card type connection adapter are increased.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the data storage device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above will be described with the same reference numerals in the drawings.

In this embodiment, the operation switch 9 is provided on the outer surface of the upper side of the housing 1, and the second connector terminal 7 of the IC card type connection adapter 3 is connected to the connector terminal of the connection cable 6.
Even if the first connector terminal 5 is not connected to the connector terminal of the computer application device, the operation of the operation switch 9 enables the transfer of the data file between the data storage means 2 and the IC memory 8.

In this way, the data file stored in the IC memory 8 of the IC card type connection adapter 3 is transferred to and saved in the data storage means 2 such as an inexpensive floppy disk, and the saved data file is saved. There is an advantage that operations such as transfer to the IC card type connection adapter 3 for use as needed can be easily performed without a computer application device.

The rest of the configuration, functions, and effects of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the data storage device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above will be described with the same reference numerals in the drawings.

In the present embodiment, the operation switch 10 is provided on the upper outer surface of the IC card type connection adapter body 5, and the second connector terminal 7 of the IC card type connection adapter 3 is connected to the connector terminal of the connection cable 6 to make the first When the connector terminal 5 is not connected to the connector terminal of the computer application device, the operation of the operation switch 10 enables the transfer of the data file between the data storage means 2 and the IC memory 8.

Other constitutions and operational effects of this embodiment are the same as those of the first and second embodiments described above,
The description is omitted.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above will be described with the same reference numerals in the drawings.

In this embodiment, the information display means 11 is provided on the upper side surface of the housing 1 in the above-mentioned second embodiment.

According to this embodiment, by operating the operation switch 9, the data storage means 2 can be operated without any computer application equipment.
When a data file is transferred between the IC memory 8 and the IC memory 8, information such as the transfer direction and the data file name is displayed on the information display means 11, so that they can be confirmed.
There is an advantage that the transfer is reliable.

Other constitutions and effects are the same as those of the second embodiment described above, and therefore the same reference numerals are attached to the drawings,
The description is omitted.

Next, a modified example of the IC card type connection adapter 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.

For convenience of explanation, the above-mentioned FIGS.
The same parts as those of the embodiment shown in FIG.

In the IC card type connection adapter 3, neither the IC memory 8 nor the operation switch 9 is provided in the IC card type connection adapter body 4, and the first and second connector terminals 5, 5 are provided.
7 is provided at both ends of the IC card type connection adapter body 4.

The IC card type connection adapter 3 shown in FIG.
In the configuration of FIG. 6, the second connector terminal 7 is
The configuration is provided at the extension end of the sheet-shaped connection cable 12 extended from the card-type connection adapter body 4. Since other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 6, the same reference numerals are given to the drawings, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The IC card type connection adapter 3 shown in FIG.
In the configuration of FIG. 7, the third connector terminal 7a is connected to the second connector terminal 7 via the sheet-like connection cable 12a.
And a fourth connector terminal 7b is connected to the third connector terminal 7a via a sheet-shaped connection cable 12b. These second to fourth connector terminals 7, 7
There is an advantage that a and 7b can be connected to the connector terminals of different types of data storage devices, respectively, and one existing IC card slot for computer application equipment can be effectively used.

Further, the IC card type connection adapter 3 shown in FIG.
In the configuration of FIG. 6, a plurality of (for example, three) operation switches 9 are provided on the upper outer surface of the IC card type connection adapter body 4.

1 to 5, the second connector terminal 7 of the IC card type connection adapter 3 may be directly connected to the connector terminal of the data storage means 2 without providing the connection cable 6. Good.

In addition, in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 9, the operation switches 9 and 10 may be of a push button type, a slide type, a touch type, a lever type, or a rotary type.

The information display means 11 shown in FIG. 5 may be a liquid crystal type, an LED type or a fluorescent type, and the information to be displayed may be any of kanji, kana characters, numbers, alphabetic characters or symbols. .

Further, in FIG. 1, the IC memory 8 may be used even when the data storage means 2 and the IC card type connection adapter 3 are combined and connected to a computer application device. The data file read from the means 2 may be loaded into a computer application device and further transferred to the IC memory 8 or vice versa.

The data storage means 2 may be any of a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, an optical disk drive, a magneto-optical disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, etc., and these may be read-only.

In addition, in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG.
It is also possible to automatically recognize the data storage means connected to the second connector terminal 7 from the state of the signal.

Further, the changeover switches 9 and 10 may be replaced by a signal from a computer application device.

[0047]

As described in detail above, according to the data storage means of claim 1 of the present invention, by inserting the IC card type connection adapter into the existing IC card slot in the computer application device, the computer application device is inserted. Since it can be externally attached without providing an external dedicated connector, it can contribute to downsizing and cost reduction of computer application equipment.

In addition, I in the IC card type connection adapter body
With the built-in C memory and the structure that can be separated from the data storage means, and the function of using the IC card type connection adapter independently as an IC card is added, the IC card type connection adapter can be used for various purposes and is expensive. It has the effect of improving performance at a price.

According to the data storage means of claim 2,
By providing the operation switch for transferring the data file between the data storage means and the IC memory, there is an effect that the data file can be easily transferred to the computer application device.

Further, a large amount of data can be stored at a relatively low cost by preparing a few IC card type connection adapters without preparing a large number of expensive IC cards, and the high speed of the IC card can be utilized. is there.

According to the data storage device of claim 3,
By providing the information display means for displaying the transfer status of the data file, it is possible to reliably transfer the file.

According to another aspect of the IC card type connection adapter of the present invention, the IC card type connection connector main body having substantially the same shape as the IC card is connected to the connector terminal in the IC card slot already installed in the computer application device. A second connecting terminal to the connector terminal and the connector terminal of the data storage device
By providing the connector terminal, it is not necessary to provide an external dedicated connector in the computer application device, and there is an effect that it can contribute to downsizing of the computer application device and cost reduction.

Further, according to the IC card type connector of the fifth aspect, it is possible to utilize for various purposes by supporting a plurality of types of data storage devices. Also, since a plurality of data storage devices can be connected at the same time, there is an effect that one existing IC card slot for computer application equipment can be effectively used.

Further, according to the IC card type connection adapter of claim 5, since the IC memory is built in the IC card type connection adapter body, the IC card can be used independently as an IC card, and can be utilized for various purposes. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a data storage device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an IC card type connection adapter in the same device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a data storage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a data storage device according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a data storage device according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a first IC card type connection adapter according to the present invention.
It is a perspective view which shows a modification.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a second modified example of the adapter.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a third modified example of the adapter.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a fourth modified example of the adapter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 case 2 data storage means 3 IC card type connection adapter 4 IC card type connection adapter main body 5 first connector terminal 7 second connector terminal 8 IC memory 9 operation switch 10 operation switch 11 information display means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location G11B 33/12 313 B H01R 9/00 7129-5E

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A data storage device externally attached to a computer application device, comprising an IC card type connection adapter,
The data storage means is provided in the housing, and the data storage means can be connected to the computer application device by inserting the IC card type connection adapter into an existing IC card slot of the computer application device. The IC card type connection adapter has a built-in IC memory at least, is attachable to and detachable from the housing, and has the function of being independently used as an IC card. apparatus. 2. The IC in the IC card type connection adapter
2. The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein a data file can be transferred between the memory and the data storage means in at least one direction, and a switch for operating the transfer of the data file is provided. 3. The data storage device according to claim 2, further comprising information display means for displaying a transfer status of at least the data file. 4. An IC card type connection adapter body having substantially the same shape as an IC card which can be inserted into an existing IC card slot in a computer application device to which a data storage device is externally attached, and the IC card type connection adapter body provided on the adapter body, An IC card comprising a first connector terminal connected to a connector terminal in an IC card slot and a second connector terminal provided on the adapter body and connected to a connector terminal of the data storage device. Type connection adapter. 5. The IC card type connection adapter according to claim 4, wherein the second connector terminal can be selectively connected to connector terminals of a plurality of types of data storage devices. 6. The IC card type connection adapter according to claim 4, wherein the adapter main body has at least an IC memory built therein to add a function that can be independently used as an IC card.