Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Intrasystem connection – Bus access regulation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-12
2001-11-06
Beausoleil, Robert (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Intrasystem connection
Bus access regulation
C710S108000, C361S689000, C361S689000, C463S001000, C463S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314483
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a portable electronic device used as an auxiliary storage device for an information equipment, such as a memory card device, and also to a portable, electronic gaming device, and more particularly to a connection terminal and cover thereof.
As is known in the art, a portable electronic device or a slave device, such as a memory card device, may be used as a non-volatile storage element for holding data. The portable electronic device is inserted into an information providing apparatus, such as a video game machine acting as a master device, and receives information thereof for storage. The portable electronic device includes an interface for connection to a main body portion of the information providing apparatus.
FIG. 68A
shows an illustrative block diagram structure of a memory card device as an example of the portable electronic device. In
FIG. 68A
, a memory card device
10
has a control circuit II for controlling the operation of the memory card device, a connector
12
for connecting the memory card device to a terminal provided in a slot of the main body portion of the information providing apparatus and a non-volatile memory
16
for holding data. Connector
12
and non-volatile memory
16
are coupled with control circuit
11
. The control circuit comprises, by way of example, a micro-computer and the non-volatile memory comprises a flash memory, such as EEPROM, or the like by way of example. As a connection interface with the information providing apparatus, an additional micro-computer, or the same micro-computer as that used for controller
12
, may be used to oversee the data transfer protocol.
FIG. 68B
further shows a plurality of control items within controller
11
of memory card device
10
. Here, the controller
11
has a connection interface
11
A for connection to the main body portion of the information providing apparatus and a memory interface
11
B for data input/output for non-volatile memory
16
.
A conventional video game device, such as a home TV game device, stores game data or the like in an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned memory card device
10
may be used as this auxiliary storage device for such a conventional video game device.
FIG. 69
depicts an example of such a conventional video game device
1
employing memory card device
10
as the auxiliary storage device. As shown, the video game device has a main body portion
2
housed in a casing. A disc loading unit
3
is positioned in a center area thereof and is adapted to receive an optical disc having an application program recorded thereon to be used by the video game device. Main body portion
2
of video game device
1
includes a reset switch
4
for optionally resetting the game, a power switch
5
, a disc actuating switch
6
for actuating the loading of the optical disc, and in a preferred embodiment by way of example, two slots
7
A and
7
B. Memory card device
10
, used as the auxiliary storage device, is inserted into one of slots
7
A and
7
B. A control circuit
19
(Central Processing Unit “CPU”) of video game device
1
feeds information indicative of, for example, the results of a game being executed on the video game device. These game results are written to non-volatile memory
16
of memory card device
10
and may include score results, game position information so a user may restart a game at a desired location, or the like. Plural actuators (controllers), not shown, may also be connected to slots
7
A and
7
B so that plural users can simultaneously play combat games or the like, for example.
The terminal used for connection of memory card device
10
to the video game device is exposed to the outside of the outer casing of the memory card device. This terminal of the memory card device is coupled with an integrated circuit within the memory card device, for example. If a hand or finger of a user makes contact with the terminal, the integrated circuit of the memory card device may be electrostatically destroyed. Therefore, when not connected to an information providing apparatus, the terminal of the memory card device should be protected by a cover formed of an electric insulating material. However, a conventional cap type cover that may be mounted/dismounted from the outer casing of the memory card device is difficult to handle. Additionally, the cover may be lost when the memory card device is in use.
Although a rotary cover may be provided on the outer casing of the memory card device to protect the terminal thereof, this rotary type cover may have its supporting portion destroyed by an externally applied force. Moreover, this type of cover occasionally proves a hindrance during connection of the memory card device to the information providing apparatus. Also, if a rotary type lid is provided, and it is desired to reduce the size of the memory card device, the rotary type lid may take up a large part of the space of the outer casing of the memory card device. Thus, no space may be left on the memory card device to provide an actuator, display or the like.
It would therefore be beneficial to provide an improved electronic apparatus that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved portable electronic device having a terminal portion for connection to an external equipment.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved portable electronic apparatus which, when not connected to an external equipment, the terminal portion thereof can be reliably protected.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved portable electronic apparatus that is easy to handle and which permits facilitated operation of an actuator positioned on an outer casing of the portable electronic apparatus.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved portable electronic apparatus that can be connected smoothly to an external equipment while retaining a cover for protecting a terminal thereof.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking in accordance with the invention, a portable electronic apparatus is provided and includes an electronic circuit portion having a terminal portion for connection to an external equipment. The terminal portion is exposed to the outside of the outer casing of the portable electronic apparatus via a through-hole provided therein. A lid member is also provided and is rotatably supported by the outer casing of the portable electronic apparatus. The lid member reliably protects the terminal portion of the portable electronic apparatus, and can be mounted on or dismounted from the outer casing, as desired. Thus, the lid member is not destroyed by an external force during the opening or closing of the lid. Moreover, if the lid member proves a hindrance during connection of the portable electronic apparatus to the external equipment, it can be intentionally dismounted.
The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to the others, and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which are adapted to effect such steps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
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patent: WO 93/23125 (1993-11-01), None
Goto Teiyu
Kutaragi Ken
Beausoleil Robert
Chung-Trans X.
Frommer William S.
Frommer Lawrence & Haug LLP.
Kessler Gordon
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