Registers – Coded record sensors – Holding devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-30
2001-12-25
Le, Thien M. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Holding devices
C235S441000, C235S492000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332578
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adapter, and particularly to a disk-cartridge-type adapter having the same external shape as a disk cartridge such as a 3.5-inch FPD (floppy disk) cartridge. The adapter is used to handle an IC card or a semiconductor memory that stores various kinds of information such as electronic money information. The adapter is inserted into a disk cartridge drive such as a 3.5-inch FDD (floppy disk drive).
2. Description of the Related Art
Disk-cartridge-type adapters are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Examined Patent Publications No. 6-509194 and No. 7-86912.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram showing one of the adapters disclosed in the publications. The adapter la has the same external shape as a 3.5-inch FPD cartridge and incorporates a semiconductor memory
2
a
for storing, for example, electronic money data, a magnetic head
3
, an opening
4
for making the head
3
face a magnetic head of an FDD (not shown), and a battery
5
a
for supplying power to the memory
2
a.
The memory
2
a
employs the same data format as that of FPDS. The adapter
1
a
is inserted into the FDD so that data is transferred between the memory
2
a
and a data processor such as a personal computer.
FIG. 2
is a block diagram showing another of the adapters disclosed in the publications. The adapter
1
b
has the same external shape as a 3.5-inch FPD cartridge and incorporates an IC card
2
b
for storing, for example, electronic money data, a microprocessor (MPU)
6
, a magnetic head
3
, an opening
4
for making the head
3
face a magnetic head of an FDD, and a battery (or a generator)
5
b
for supplying power to the IC card
2
b
and MPU
6
.
The adapter
1
b
is inserted into the FDD so that data is transferred between the IC card
2
b
and a data processor such as a personal computer. The MPU
6
converts data transferred from the data processor into data to be written into the IC card
2
b
, and data transferred from the IC card
2
b
into data to be transferred to the data processor.
These adapters
1
a
and
1
b
have no means to control the power sources
5
a
and
5
b
. A user must turn on the power source before using the adapter and turn off the same after removing the adapter from the FDD. If the power source is left on, the battery will be exhausted. The adapters have functional parts for transferring data between the adapters and a data processor and must supply power to these functional parts. If the adapters are kept active for a long time, the batteries will be quickly exhausted. The adapter of
FIG. 2
employs the generator
5
b
instead of a battery. The generator needs a large space, and if the generator is made compact, it will generate insufficient power.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an adapter that is free of trouble, has a simple structure, and consumes low power.
In order to accomplish the object, the present invention provides an adapter having an insertion detecting switch for detecting whether or not the adapter is completely inserted into a disk cartridge drive such as an FDD. If the switch detects complete insertion of the adapter, the adapter enables power supply from a power source, and if not, the adapter disables the same.
The insertion detecting switch may be configured to be pressed with a shutter opening/closing knob of the FDD.
The insertion detecting switch may be arranged at a front or rear end of the adapter so that it is pressed with a stopper or retainer of the FDD.
The insertion detecting switch may be configured to be pressed with a positioning boss of the FDD.
The insertion detecting switch may be configured to be pressed with a spindle of the FDD.
The insertion detecting switch may be configured to be pressed with a write-protect mechanism of the FDD.
The insertion detecting switch may be configured to be pressed with a double-density detecting mechanism of the FDD.
The present invention also provides an adapter having a rotation detecting switch for detecting whether or not a motor of an FDD is rotating. According to the output of the rotation detecting switch, the adapter determines whether or not the FDD is accessing the adapter and whether or not power must be supplied to functional blocks of the adapter.
The rotation detecting switch may be configured to be pressed with an-FPD drive pin connected to a spindle of the motor of the FDD.
The rotation detecting switch may have an optical sensor for detecting light that passes through a hole formed on a metal hub of the adapter that is attracted by a rotary magnet connected to the motor. The optical sensor may detect light that is intermittently blocked by a projection formed on the metal hub. The rotation detecting switch may have a mechanical switch that is turned on and off with the projection formed on the metal hub.
The adapter of the present invention may have both the insertion detecting switch and rotation detecting switch.
The adapter of the present invention may have functional blocks and both the insertion detecting switch and rotation detecting switch. According to the outputs of these switches, the adapter controls power supply to the functional blocks.
The adapter of the present invention may have functional blocks, both the insertion detecting switch and the rotation detecting switch, and a controller. If the insertion detecting switch detects complete insertion of the adapter into an FDD, the adapter supplies power from a power source to the controller, and if not, supplies no power to the controller. According to the output of the rotation detecting switch, the controller determines whether or not the FDD is accessing the adapter and whether or not power must be supplied to the functional blocks.
The adapter may stop power supply to a drive interface of the adapter if the motor of the FDD stops while the adapter is processing data according to commands from the FDD. If the motor restarts, the adapter resumes power supply to the drive interface.
If the motor of the FDD keeps rotating even after the adapter completes data processing, the adapter may forcibly turn off the power source a predetermined period after the completion of data processing.
The adapter may have an IC card socket for receiving an IC card that stores various kinds of information, and a card interface for communicating with the IC card. The controller of the adapter may only supply power, from the power source to the card interface when accessing the IC card.
The adapter may have a semiconductor memory instead of the IC card, for storing various kinds of information.
A battery serving as the power source of the adapter will not be exhausted when the adapter is not used, because the adapter enables power supply from the battery upon detecting complete insertion of the adapter into a disk cartridge drive and disables power supply from the battery upon detecting ejection of the adapter from the disk cartridge drive.
If the rotation detecting switch detects that a motor of the disk cartridge drive is not rotating, the adapter stops power supply to the drive interface. The adapter enables power supply to the drive interface only while the motor is rotating, to reduce consumption of the battery power.
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patent: 40
Hashimoto Shigeru
Niwata Tsuyoshi
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Fijitsu Limited
Le Thien M.
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