Electronic equipment device and method for protecting electronic equipment

• US 20050031298A1
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Nobutatsu, Amatatsu, Seiya
• Application Number:
  US10/882,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20050031298A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/361
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/025 Portable cases

Abstract

When electronic equipment incorporating recording and reproducing drive unit such as an HDD unit is mounted on a cradle, the electronic equipment cannot be detached from the cradle while the HDD unit is during the operation, so that a crash of the HDD unit can be prevented.

In the state where a portable electronic equipment 1 incorporating an HDD unit 19 is mounted on a cradle 2, it is electrically detected that the HDD unit 19 is in driving operation and by locking the cradle 2 and the electronic equipment 1 through engaging unit 26, electronic equipment 1 is prevented from being removed from the cradle 2.

Claims

1. An electronic equipment device in which electronic equipment incorporating a recording and reproducing drive unit that performs recording and reproduction of a recording medium is mounted on a mounting frame to perform various operations, comprising:

lock means provided in said mounting frame for locking said electronic equipment on the mounting frame by engaging with the electronic equipment and

detection means for detecting that said recording and reproducing drive unit is during the operation, wherein

said lock means is locked based on a detection output of said detection means, so that said electronic equipment cannot be disengaged from said mounting frame.

2. The electronic equipment device according to claim 1, wherein

said mounting frame comprises release means for releasing said lock means, and said lock means cannot be released while said recording and reproducing drive unit is during the operation, even if said release means is operated.

3. The electronic equipment device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

said recording and reproducing drive unit is an HDD unit.

4. A method for protecting electronic equipment in which electronic equipment incorporating a recording and reproducing drive unit that performs recording and reproduction of a recording medium is mounted on a mounting frame to perform various operations so that the recording medium and the recording and reproducing drive unit can be protected, wherein

when it is detected that said recording and reproducing drive unit is in a driving mode with said electronic equipment mounted on said mounting frame, the electronic equipment cannot be disengaged from the mounting frame.

5. The method for protecting the electronic equipment according to claim 4, wherein

even if lock release means provided in said mounting frame is operated, the lock is not released while said recording and reproducing drive unit is during the operation.

6. The method for protecting the electronic equipment according to claim 4 or 5, wherein

said recording and reproducing drive unit is an HDD unit.