JPH0651867A - Data storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a computer application equipment small in size and low in cost by connecting an IC card type connection adapter to a slot for IC card provided at the computer applied equipment so as to enable connection. CONSTITUTION:An IC card type connection adapter 3 is provided at the external part of one side of an enclosure 1 and connected through a sheet-shaped connection cable 4 to a data storage means 2 in the enclosure 1. Such an IC card type connection adapter 3 is inserted to the slot for IC card provided at the computer application equipment such as a personal computer so as to connect the application equipment and the data storage means 2 each other and to transfer a data file between them. Thus, an exclusive connector for connecting the data storage means 2 is connecessitated for the application equipment, thereby the computer application equipment is made small in size and low in cost.

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.

[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 become a portable computer-applied device. It is becoming more and more external.

[0004]

However, since the IC card is expensive, it 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. However, there is a problem in that it is necessary to provide a dedicated connector for externally attaching the FDD to the computer application device to the computer application device, which is an obstacle to downsizing the computer application device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to allow external attachment to a computer-applied device without providing a dedicated connector for externally attaching the computer-applied device. An object of the present invention is to provide a data storage device that can contribute to realization and cost reduction.

[0006]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a data storage device externally attached to a computer application device, comprising an IC card type connection adapter and data storage means, and the IC card The data storage means can be connected to the computer application device by inserting the type connection adapter into the IC card slot provided in the computer application device.

In order to achieve the above object, the data storage means is composed of a floppy disk drive or a magnetic tape drive, or the IC card type connection adapter is built in the data storage means when not in use. It is desirable that the IC card type connection adapter and the data storage means be connected to each other by a cordless transceiver so that they can be held in close contact with the housing.

[0008]

When the IC card type connection adapter is inserted into the IC card slot provided in the computer application device, the data storage means is connected to the computer application device. Therefore, the data storage device is externally attached to the computer application device. There is no need for a dedicated connector for

[0009]

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, in 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. The IC card type connection adapter 3 is connected to the data storage means 2 in the housing 1 via a sheet-shaped connection cable 4.

In such a configuration, by inserting the IC card type connection adapter 3 into an existing IC card slot of a computer application device such as a personal computer (not shown), the computer application device and the data storage means 2 are connected to each other. Then, the data file can be transferred between the computer application device and the data storage means 2. This eliminates the need for a dedicated connector for connecting the data storage means 2 to the computer application device, which can contribute to downsizing and cost reduction of the computer application device.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second 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, an IC card type connection adapter 3 is integrally provided on the outer surface of one side of the housing 1, and the sheet-like connection cable 4 in the first embodiment is omitted.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third 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, a pair of sandwiching projections (holding means) 5 and 5 are integrally provided so as to be opposed to each other on the outer surface of the upper side of the housing 1, and the connection cable 4 is bent when not in use to form an IC card. The IC card type connection adapter 3 can be held in close contact with the housing 1 by removably fitting the type connection adapter 3 between the clamping projections 5 and 5 by utilizing elasticity. .

Since the IC card type connection adapter 3 can be closely held to the housing 1 when not in use as in the present embodiment, the IC card type connection adapter 3 can be prevented from being damaged when being carried, It has the advantage of being convenient to carry.

[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, a fitting groove (holding means) 6 is provided on the outer surface of the upper side of the housing 1, and the IC card type connection adapter 3 is elastically used in the fitting groove 6 by bending the connection cable 4 when not in use. Then, the IC card type connection adapter 3 can be held in close contact with the housing 1 by detachably fitting.

This embodiment also has the advantage of being convenient to carry, as in the third embodiment described above.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, a fifth 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, a housing slot (holding means) 7 which is open on one side is provided on the inner surface of the upper side of the housing 1, and the IC card type connection adapter 3 is housed by bending the connection cable 4 when not in use. The IC card type connection adapter 3 can be held in close contact with the housing 1 by being housed in the slot 7.

Also in this embodiment, as in the third and fourth embodiments, there is an advantage that it is convenient to carry.

[Sixth Embodiment] Next, a sixth 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, I is provided at the upper ridge on one side of the housing 1.
A base end portion of the C card type connection adapter 3 is rotatably attached by a hinge mechanism (holding means) 8, and the IC card type connection adapter 3 is rotated in one direction so as to overlap the case 1 when not in use. Thus, the IC card type connection adapter 3 can be held in close contact with the housing 1.

Also in this embodiment, the above-mentioned third to fifth aspects are carried out.
Similar to the embodiment, there is an advantage that it is convenient to carry.

[Seventh Embodiment] A seventh embodiment of the present invention will now 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.

This embodiment is an IC card type connection adapter 3
Are provided separately from the housing 1, and the housing 1 and the IC card type connection adapter 3 are provided with cordless (wireless) transceivers 9 and 10, respectively. The data storage means 2 in 1 and the IC card type connection adapter 3 are connected to each other.

When the IC card type connection adapter 3 is inserted into an IC card slot provided in a computer application device such as a personal computer (not shown), a cordless transceiver is provided between the data storage means 2 and the IC card type connection adapter 3. The data files can be transferred between the computer-applied equipment and the data storage means 2 by radio waves, which are connected via the terminals 9 and 10.

In this embodiment, the IC is mounted on the housing 1.
Since the card-type connection adapter 3 is separated, there is an advantage that the degree of freedom in arranging the data storage device with respect to the computer application device is increased.

The cordless transceivers 9 and 10 in this embodiment may be of a type that uses radio waves, a type that uses light such as an infrared transceiver, or an ultrasonic transceiver.

The connection cable 4 in the above-mentioned first and third to fifth embodiments is not limited to an electric wire, but may be an optical cable such as an optical fiber.

[0033]

As described above, according to the data storage device of the first aspect of the present invention, by inserting the IC card type connection adapter into the existing IC card slot in the computer application device, the data storage means can be provided. Since the computer-applied device is connected to the computer-applied device, a dedicated connector for externally attaching the data storage device to the computer-applied device is unnecessary, which can contribute to downsizing of the computer-applied device and cost reduction.

According to the data storage device of claim 2,
Since the data storage means is a floppy disk drive, a large amount of data can be stored at low cost.

According to the data storage device of claim 3,
Since the data storage means is a magnetic tape drive, a large amount of data can be stored in one roll of tape at low cost.

According to the data storage device of claim 4,
Since the IC card type connection adapter can be held in close contact with the housing when not in use, the IC card type connection adapter can be prevented from being damaged when being carried, which is convenient for carrying.

Further, according to the data storage device of claim 5,
Since the cordless transceiver is used to connect the IC card type connection adapter and the data storage means, the degree of freedom in arranging the data storage device with respect to the computer application device is increased.

[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 a data storage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

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

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

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a data storage device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 2 Data storage means 3 IC card type connection adapter 5 Clamping protrusion (holding means) 6 Fitting groove (holding means) 7 Storage slot (holding means) 8 Hinge mechanism (holding means) 9 Cordless transceiver 10 Cordless transceiver Machine

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location G11B 33/06 Z H04N 5/907 B 7916-5C

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A data storage device externally attached to a computer application device, comprising an IC card type connection adapter,
Data storage means, and the data storage means can be connected to the computer application device by inserting the IC card type connection adapter into an IC card slot provided in the computer application device. Data storage device. 2. The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the data storage means is a floppy disk drive. 3. The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the data storage means is a magnetic tape drive. 4. The IC card type connection adapter is provided so as to project from a housing containing the data storage means, and a holding means for holding the IC card type connection adapter in close contact with the housing when not in use is provided. 4. The data storage device according to claim 1, 2 or 3. 5. The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the IC card type connection adapter and the data storage means are connected by a cordless transceiver.