Registers – Records
Patent
1995-11-22
1998-04-07
Le, Hoanganh T.
Registers
Records
235486, 235492, G06K 700, G06K 1900, G06K 1906
Patent
active
057367272
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Portable electronic devices such as notebook computers are increasingly being provided with a slot for receiving an IC card constructed in accordance with JEIDA and PCMCIA standards. Under such standards, each IC card has a card length of about 86 mm, a card width of about 54 mm, and a card thickness of about 5 mm. A variety of IC cards are available, including those with considerable memory so that data can be stored in a card and the data transferred to or from the electronic device and the card. The portable electronic devices may have other input/output ports.
It is often necessary to transfer data between the portable electronic device and a second device such a printer, desk top computer, etc. One technique for such transfer is to provide an IC card with a connector at its rear end, and a cable with one end that plugs into the card and another end that plugs into the second electronic device. Cables can be clumsy and inconvenient, and are not preferred for many of the same reasons that they are not generally used to connect a remote television control to a television set. Cables can be eliminated by connecting infrared emitter/detector units through short cables to each of the two electronic devices. However, in the case of the first electronic device, which may be a small portable computer, it can be annoying to have to store such a unit with its cable and to separately support the first electronic device and the unit. An infrared communication system for connecting electronic devices, where one of the devices has a slot for receiving an IC card, which minimized efforts in storage and set up for infrared data communications, would be of value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, applicant provides a light communication capability for an electronic device that is designed to receive IC cards, which requires very little extra storage and which can be set up very easily. Applicant provides an IC card with a front portion for insertion into a card-receiving slot of the electronic device and with a rear portion which substantially projects from the electronic device and which carries a light emitter and/or a light detector. The emitter and detector are each mounted on the same rigid frame of the IC card which projects into the slot, so the rigid frame of the IC card maintains the emitter and/or detector in position and orientation. The light emitter and/or detector are each mounted substantially at the rear edge of the IC card and are oriented to emit light in primarily a rearward direction away from the card and to detect light passing in a primarily forward direction towards the rear of the card. The rear portion of the card preferably has about the same width and height as the front portion, which facilitates storage of the card. Considerable light transmitting capability is obtained in the small card thickness by providing a plurality of light emitter elements that are spaced along the width of the card at substantially its rear edge.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial isometric view of an IC card and electronic device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the IC card of FIG. 1, with the cover removed, and with some parts shown schematically.
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional side view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 and of an IC card constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a partial isometric view of an IC card constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a card and separate unit which can be used in the device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an IC card of the prior art and of a cable connector assembly mateable therewith.
FIG. 7 is a
REFERENCES:
patent: 4942534 (1990-07-01), Yokoyama et al.
patent: 5500517 (1996-03-01), Caghostro
patent: 5574270 (1996-11-01), Steyyen
patent: 5574273 (1996-11-01), Nakagawa et al.
Hirayama Masahiro
Nakata Eiichi
Le Hoanganh T.
Le Thien Minh
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