Electronic apparatus

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus that can be installed / removed even if work cannot be performed from a back side.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus includes: a housing that fits into a wall; a movable claw that can transition to a protruding mode where the claw protrudes from the housing, or a retracted mode where the claw retracts into the housing; a reader that reads information from an IC card; and a control unit that controls a mode of the movable claw. When the housing is fitted into the wall and in the protruding mode, the movable claw abuts against the wall from the inside thereof, thereby preventing the housing from being removed from the wall. When an ID of a pre-certified worker is read by the reader, the control unit transitions the movable claw from a protruding mode to the retracting mode, thereby releasing the contact between the movable claw and the wall and enabling removal from the wall surface of the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device that is fitted into a wall surface. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wall mounting fixture intended to prevent theft of an IC card (integrated circuit card) reader. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-272645 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The following analysis has been made from the perspective of the present invention, and the disclosures of the above-mentioned prior art documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the IC card reader is fixed by a screw that is inserted from the inside of the wall. Therefore, if work cannot be performed from the back side of the IC card reader, there is a problem that the IC card reader cannot be attached.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can be installed and removed even if work cannot be performed from the rear side. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to the first perspective, A housing that is fitted to a wall surface; a movable claw that can transition to a protruding mode in which it protrudes from the housing, or a retracted mode in which it retracts into the housing; A reading unit that reads information from an IC card; A control unit for controlling a mode of the movable claw; Equipped with When the housing is fitted into the wall surface and in the protruding mode, the movable claw abuts against the wall surface from an inside of the wall surface, thereby preventing the housing from being removed from the wall surface; When the ID of a pre-certified worker is read by the reading unit, the control unit transitions the movable claw from the protruding mode to the retracting mode, thereby releasing the contact between the movable claw and the wall surface, thereby enabling the housing to be removed from the wall surface. An electronic device is provided. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the above viewpoint, an electronic device is provided that can be attached and detached even if work cannot be performed from the rear side. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of the external appearance and internal structure of an IC card reader. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an IC card reader. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a movable claw. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an IC card reader. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an IC card reader. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an IC card reader. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a movable claw. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an IC card reader. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow by an IC card reader. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the reference numerals in the drawings are given to each element for convenience as an example to aid in understanding, and are not intended to limit the present invention to the illustrated embodiment. The connection lines between blocks in each drawing include both bidirectional and unidirectional lines. Although not explicitly shown, input and output ports exist at the input and output ends of each connection line in the circuit diagrams, block diagrams, internal configuration diagrams, connection diagrams, and the like shown in the present disclosure. The same is true for input and output interfaces.

[0011] [Embodiment 1] In the first embodiment, an IC card reader will be described as a specific example of the electronic device. As shown in FIG.

[0012] The housing 101 is attached to a wall surface 201 so as to be fitted therein as shown in Fig. 2. Note that, as shown in Fig. 2, the housing 101 may be attached to the wall surface 201 via a mounting bracket 202. In this case, the mounting bracket 202 may be regarded as a part of the wall surface 201.

[0013] The movable claw 102 can transition to a protruding mode in which it protrudes from the housing 101, or a retracted mode in which it retracts into the housing 101. Specifically, the movable claw 102 is installed at four locations on the top, bottom, left, and right of the housing 101, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, each movable claw 102 has a rotating plate 102-1, an extension plate 102-2 extending from the rotating plate 102-1, and a sliding piece 102-3 that slides by the action of an electromagnet 105 and a compression coil spring 106. As shown in FIG. 4, in the protruding mode, the movable claw 102 protrudes from the housing 101. More specifically, when the electromagnet 105 is energized, the sliding piece 102-3 is attracted to the electromagnet 105 side, the rotating plate 102-1 rotates, and the extension plate 102-2 transitions to a protruding mode in which it protrudes from the housing 101. On the other hand, in the retracting mode, the movable claw 102 retracts into the housing 101. When the electromagnet 105 is de-energized, the sliding piece 102-3 moves away from the electromagnet 105 due to the reaction force of the compression coil spring 106, the rotating plate 102-1 rotates in the opposite direction, and the extension plate 102-2 transitions to a retracted mode in which it retracts into the housing 101. In particular, when the housing 101 is fitted into the wall surface 201 and in the protruding mode, the movable claw 102 abuts against the wall surface 201 from the inside of the wall surface 201, preventing the housing 101 from being removed from the wall surface 201. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a drawn portion is provided on the back surface of the mounting bracket 202, and the movable claw 102 abuts against the drawn portion of the mounting bracket 202 from the inside. Note that a rotating arm may be used as the movable claw 102 instead of the rotating plate 102-1.

[0014] Various configurations can be adopted for the mode change (transition) of the movable claw 102. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, in the retraction mode, the sliding piece 102-3 may be attracted to the electromagnet side 105, and the movable claw 102 protruding outside the housing 101 may be accommodated in the housing 101. Specifically, in a state where the electromagnet 105 is not energized, the sliding piece 102-3 is moved away from the electromagnet 105 by the compression coil spring 106, and the extension plate 102-2 transitions to a protruding mode in which the extension plate 102-2 protrudes from the housing 101. When the electromagnet 105 is energized, the sliding piece 102-3 is attracted to the electromagnet 105 side, the rotating plate 102-1 rotates, and the extension plate 102-2 transitions to a retraction mode in which it is retracted into the housing 101. As shown in FIG. 7, the movable claw 102 in FIG. 6 has a connection piece 102-4 that connects the rotating plate 102-1 and the sliding piece 102-3. The rotating direction of the rotating plate 102-1 can be reversed with respect to the sliding direction of the sliding piece 102-3 by the connection piece 102-4. The connection piece 102-4 can be regarded as a part of the rotating plate 102-1 or a part of the sliding piece 102-3. As the electromagnet, a solenoid unit with a built-in electromagnet may be used, or the movable claw 102 may be moved back and forth (left and right) by a motor.

[0015] Reading unit 103 reads information from an IC card. Specifically, reading unit 103 is configured as a panel that forms a wall together with wall surface 201. Reading unit 103 is connected to an external device (not shown) via an interface provided on the rear surface of housing 101, and transmits the information read from the IC card to the external device.

[0016] The control unit 104 controls the mode of the movable claw 102. Specifically, when the ID (identification) of a pre-certified worker is read by the reading unit 103, the control unit 104 transitions the movable claw 102 from the protruding mode to the retracting mode. That is, in the example of Fig. 4, in the protruding mode, the control unit 104 energizes the electromagnet. Then, the control unit 104 transitions from the protruding mode to the retracting mode by canceling the energization of the electromagnet.

[0017] The determination as to whether or not the ID is of a pre-certified worker (i.e., authentication of the ID of the worker) may be performed by an external device or by IC card reader 100. For example, IC card reader 100 further includes a memory and stores the ID of a pre-certified worker in the memory. Then, control unit 104 determines whether or not the ID is of a pre-certified worker by comparing the ID read from the ID card by reading unit 103 with the ID stored in the memory.

[0018] The IC card reader 100 may be conceptually depicted by a block diagram as shown in FIG. 8. That is, the control unit 104 may be configured to include processing modules corresponding to an IC card authentication circuit, an electromagnet control unit, a memory, and a timer. The reading unit 103 may be configured as an IC card authentication circuit, or may be disposed inside the housing 101. In any case, in the protruding mode, it is sufficient that the movable claw 102 abuts against the wall surface 201 (or the mounting metal fitting 202) to prevent the IC card reader 100 from being pulled out from the wall surface 201. On the other hand, in the retracting mode, it is sufficient that the abutment of the movable claw 102 against the wall surface 201 (or the mounting metal fitting 202) is released, and the IC card reader 100 can be pulled out from the wall surface 201.

[0019] IC card reader 100 may further have a biasing portion that biases housing 101 from the inside to the outside of wall surface 201. The biasing portion may be exemplified by a spring member, but in short, it is sufficient if it can push IC card reader 100 out from the inside of wall surface 201 in the retraction mode, making it easy to pull out IC card reader 100. For example, a rod member may be extended from the back surface of IC card reader 100 to push IC card reader 100 out from the inside of wall surface 201.

[0020] Also, the IC card reader may further have a knob that protrudes from the housing 101 to the outside of the wall surface 201 when the ID of a pre-certified worker is read by the reading unit 103. This knob is used when the worker pulls out the IC card reader 100, making it possible to eliminate the need for a dedicated tool for pulling out the IC card reader.

[0021] The procedure for installing and removing the IC card reader 100 will be described below.

[0022] [Installation work] During installation, the worker connects a cable for communicating with an external device to an interface provided on the rear surface of IC card reader 100. At this time, the worker's ID is downloaded to the memory of IC card reader 100.

[0023] Next, the worker presents the ID card to IC card reader 100 and inserts IC card reader 100 into the hole in wall surface 201. By presenting the ID card, IC card reader 100 transitions from the protruding mode to the retracting mode, and IC card reader 100 can be inserted.

[0024] After that, when the worker stops presenting the ID card, IC card reader 100 starts counting the elapsed time. When the elapsed time reaches a predetermined threshold, IC card reader 100 transitions from the retraction mode to the protrusion mode. That is, control unit 104 starts applying current to electromagnet 105. In the protrusion mode, movable claw 102 abuts against wall surface 201 (or mounting bracket 202), so that IC card reader 100 is locked against wall surface 201 (a state in which IC card reader 100 cannot be pulled out).

[0025] [Removal work] During removal work, the worker presents an ID card to IC card reader 100. By presenting this ID card, IC card reader 100 transitions from the protruding mode to the retracting mode, making it possible to pull out IC card reader 100. In other words, the lock of IC card reader 100 on wall surface 201 is released.

[0026] Thereafter, the worker pulls out IC card reader 100 from wall surface 201, disconnects the cable, and removes IC card reader 100.

[0027] The flow of processing by IC card reader 100 can be summarized as shown in FIG. 9. IC card reader 100 reads information (ID) from the IC card (step S01) and compares it with data in memory (step S02). If the read ID is the ID of the worker stored in memory (step S03, Yes), IC card reader 100 stops the power supply to electromagnet 105 (step S04). At this time, movable claw 102 is stored in housing 101 and the retraction mode is set (step S05), and IC card reader 100 starts counting the elapsed time by a timer (step S06). After that, when the elapsed time reaches a predetermined threshold (step S07, Yes), IC card reader 100 resumes the power supply to electromagnet 105 (step S08). At this time, movable claw 102 protrudes from housing 101 (step S09) and the protrusion mode is set. The process flow in FIG. 9 is for the case where the movable claw 102 described in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is used. If the movable claw 102 described in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is used, S04 in FIG. 9 becomes “energize the electromagnet” and S08 becomes “de-energize the electromagnet.”

[0028] A part or all of the above-described embodiments may be described as, but is not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0029] (Appendix 1) A housing that is fitted to a wall surface; a movable claw that can transition to a protruding mode in which it protrudes from the housing, or a retracted mode in which it retracts into the housing; A reading unit that reads information from an IC card; A control unit for controlling a mode of the movable claw; Equipped with When the housing is fitted into the wall surface and in the protruding mode, the movable claw abuts against the wall surface from an inside of the wall surface, thereby preventing the housing from being removed from the wall surface; When the ID of a pre-certified worker is read by the reading unit, the control unit transitions the movable claw from the protruding mode to the retracting mode, thereby releasing the contact between the movable claw and the wall surface, thereby enabling the housing to be removed from the wall surface. electronic equipment.

[0030] (Appendix 2) The movable claws are provided at four locations on the top, bottom, left, and right of the housing, and each of the movable claws has a rotating plate, an extension plate extending from the rotating plate, and a sliding piece that slides by the action of an electromagnet and a compression coil spring, When the control unit energizes the electromagnet, the sliding piece is attracted to the electromagnet, the rotating plate rotates, and the extension plate transitions to a protruding mode in which the extending plate protrudes from the housing; When the control unit cancels the power supply to the electromagnet, the sliding piece moves away from the electromagnet due to the reaction force of the compression coil spring, and the rotating plate rotates in the opposite direction, transitioning to a retraction mode in which the extension plate retracts into the housing. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1.

[0031] (Appendix 3) When an elapsed time after the transition to the retraction mode reaches a predetermined threshold, the control unit resumes energization of the electromagnet to return the retraction mode to the protrusion mode. 10. The electronic device according to claim 2.

[0032] (Appendix 4) The movable claws are installed at four locations on the top, bottom, left, and right of the housing, and each of the movable claws has a rotating plate, an extension plate extending from the rotating plate, a sliding piece that slides by the action of an electromagnet and a compression coil spring, and a connecting piece that connects the rotating plate and the extension plate, When the control unit energizes the electromagnet, the sliding piece is attracted to the electromagnet, and the rotating plate rotates via the connecting piece, transitioning to a retraction mode in which the extension plate is retracted into the housing; When the control unit releases the current supply to the electromagnet, the sliding piece moves away from the electromagnet due to the reaction force of the compression coil spring, and the rotating plate rotates in the opposite direction via the connecting piece, transitioning to a protruding mode in which the extension plate protrudes from the housing. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1.

[0033] (Appendix 5) When an elapsed time after transition to the retraction mode reaches a predetermined threshold, the control unit releases the power supply to the electromagnet to return the retraction mode to the protrusion mode. 5. The electronic device according to claim 4.

[0034] (Appendix 6) The electronic device described in Appendix 1, further comprising a biasing portion that biases the housing from the inside toward the outside of the wall surface.

[0035] (Appendix 7) 2. The electronic device described in claim 1, further comprising a knob that protrudes from the housing to the outside of the wall surface when the ID of a pre-certified worker is read by the reading unit.

[0036] The disclosures of the above cited patent documents are incorporated herein by reference and may be used as the basis or part of the present invention as necessary. Within the scope of the entire disclosure of the present invention (including the scope of claims), modifications and adjustments of the embodiments and examples are possible based on the basic technical ideas. Furthermore, within the scope of the entire disclosure of the present invention, various combinations or selections (including partial deletions) of various disclosed elements (including each element of each claim, each element of each embodiment or example, each element of each drawing, etc.) are possible. In other words, the present invention naturally includes various modifications and corrections that a person skilled in the art would be able to make according to the entire disclosure including the scope of claims and the technical ideas. In particular, with regard to the numerical ranges described in this document, any numerical value or small range included in the range should be interpreted as being specifically described even if not otherwise specified. Furthermore, the disclosures of the above cited documents may be used in part or in whole in combination with the disclosures of this document as part of the disclosure of the present invention in accordance with the spirit of the present invention as necessary, and are deemed to be included in the disclosures of this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 100 IC card reader (electronic device) 101 Case 102 Movable claw 102-1 Rotating plate 102-2 Extension plate 102-3 Sliding piece 102-4 Connection piece 103 Reading unit 104 Control section 105 Electromagnet 106 Compression coil spring 201 Wall 202 Mounting bracket

Claims

1. A housing that is fitted to a wall surface; a movable claw that can transition to a protruding mode in which it protrudes from the housing, or a retracted mode in which it retracts into the housing; A reading unit that reads information from an IC card; A control unit for controlling a mode of the movable claw; Equipped with When the housing is fitted into the wall surface and in the protruding mode, the movable claw abuts against the wall surface from an inside of the wall surface, thereby preventing the housing from being removed from the wall surface; When the ID of a pre-certified worker is read by the reading unit, the control unit transitions the movable claw from the protruding mode to the retracting mode, thereby releasing the contact between the movable claw and the wall surface, thereby enabling the housing to be removed from the wall surface. electronic equipment.

2. the movable claws are provided at four locations on the top, bottom, left, and right of the housing, and each of the movable claws has a rotating plate, an extension plate extending from the rotating plate, and a sliding piece that slides by the action of an electromagnet and a compression coil spring; When the control unit energizes the electromagnet, the sliding piece is attracted to the electromagnet, the rotating plate rotates, and the extension plate transitions to a protruding mode in which the extending plate protrudes from the housing; When the control unit cancels the power supply to the electromagnet, the sliding piece moves away from the electromagnet due to the reaction force of the compression coil spring, and the rotating plate rotates in the opposite direction, transitioning to a retraction mode in which the extension plate retracts into the housing.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1.

3. When an elapsed time after the transition to the retraction mode reaches a predetermined threshold, the control unit resumes energization of the electromagnet to return the retraction mode to the protrusion mode.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2.

4. The movable claws are installed at four locations on the top, bottom, left, and right of the housing, and each of the movable claws has a rotating plate, an extension plate extending from the rotating plate, a sliding piece that slides by the action of an electromagnet and a compression coil spring, and a connecting piece that connects the rotating plate and the extension plate, When the control unit energizes the electromagnet, the sliding piece is attracted to the electromagnet, and the rotating plate rotates via the connecting piece, transitioning to a retraction mode in which the extension plate is retracted into the housing; When the control unit releases the current supply to the electromagnet, the sliding piece moves away from the electromagnet due to the reaction force of the compression coil spring, and the rotating plate rotates in the opposite direction via the connecting piece, transitioning to a protruding mode in which the extension plate protrudes from the housing.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1.

5. When an elapsed time after transition to the retraction mode reaches a predetermined threshold, the control unit releases the power supply to the electromagnet to return the retraction mode to the protrusion mode.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising a biasing portion that biases the housing from the inside toward the outside of the wall surface.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising a knob portion that protrudes from the housing to an outside of the wall surface when an ID of a pre-certified worker is read by the reader portion.

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