Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-11
2003-04-08
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S486000, C235S492000, C235S380000, C235S441000, C235S449000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06543696
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable information terminal such as a portable telephone which is used with an IC card in which individual identification information or the like is recorded.
2. Description of the Related Art
In Europe, an IC card which records individual identification information or the like for identifying an individual user, which is called an SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, is used in a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) which is a communication system for a portable telephone. In Japan, the development of portable information terminals using IC cards is under consideration.
A connector and a circuit board are provided in a main body of a portable information terminal in order to load an IC card.
FIG. 1
, FIG.
2
and
FIG. 3
are perspective views showing the structure of a conventional portable telephone.
In
FIG. 1
, reference numeral
1
denotes a front case of a portable information terminal such as a portable telephone,
2
is a rear case, and
3
is a battery pack mounted detachably in a rear section of the rear case
2
.
4
is a knob lock provided on an upper step end of the rear section of the rear case
2
.
5
is an earphone terminal which is provided on a lateral side of the rear case
2
.
6
is an external interface connector which is provided on a bottom section of the rear case
2
.
7
is an antenna which is shown in a state of being housed in the rear case
2
.
8
is a flip cover, one end of which is mounted pivotally on the front case
1
by a hinge (not shown).
9
is a connector which is formed in a central portion of a lower step of the rear section of the rear case
2
as a concave portion towards the front surface of the portable information terminal.
10
is an IC card which can be connected with the connector
9
.
Next, the operation in use of the portable information terminal as shown in
FIG. 1
will be described. An IC card
10
is inserted in a concave portion of the connector
9
, thereafter, a battery pack
3
is attached to a rear case
2
so as to cover the IC card
10
. The portable information terminal can be used in a state that the battery pack
3
is attached to the rear case
2
.
In
FIG. 2
, components, which are the same as those represented in
FIG. 1
are indicated by the same reference numerals and additional description will be omitted. Reference numeral
11
denotes a connector which has an insertion mouth on a step end face of the rear case
2
and which is adapted to define, a groove, into which the IC card is loaded, extending towards the upper face of the rear case
2
from the above end face.
The operation of using the portable information terminal as shown in
FIG. 2
will be described below. After an IC card
10
is loaded into the groove of the connector
11
, a battery pack
3
is attached to a rear case
2
so as to cover the insertion mouth of the groove. The portable information terminal can be used in a condition that the battery pack
3
is attached to the rear case
2
.
In
FIG. 3
, components which are the same as those represented in
FIG. 1
are indicated by the same reference numerals and additional description will be omitted. Reference numeral
12
denotes an operation key which is used for specific purposes and which is provided at a distance from the cover
8
on a front face of the front case
1
.
13
is a display panel which is provided on an upper section of the front face of the front case
1
.
14
is a signal reception lamp which is provided on an upper end of the front face of the front case
1
and indicates signal reception by a blinking signal with a signal is received.
15
is a receiver which is provided near the upper end of the front face of the front case
1
.
16
is a microphone which is provided near a lower end of the front face of the front case
1
.
17
is a connector which has an insertion mouth in an upper portion on one of side faces of the front case
1
and which is adapted to define a groove extending towards the other side face of the front case
1
. In the portable information terminal as shown in
FIG. 3
, since there is a possibility of damaging the circuit elements or losing the IC card as a result of the IC card being dislodged from the groove by an impact caused by dropping the portable information terminal main body or the like, a detachable cap is provided on the insertion mouth of the connector
17
although this is not shown in
FIG. 3. A
power source disconnecting circuit and a switching mechanism for disconnecting power supply if the IC card is dislodged are also provided.
Since the conventional portable information terminal is constructed as above, the connection terminal of the connector which is connected with the connection terminal of the IC card is arranged in a direction parallel to the main plane (the plane which is defined based on the face of the circuit board on which the majority of the circuit elements are mounted) of the circuit board stored in the portable information terminal main body. Thus, the problem has arisen that the occupied area of the circuit board by the connector or the connector-related elements is increased and it is difficult to downsize the portable information terminal.
Furthermore, in the conventional portable information terminal; the structure required for the mechanism to remove the IC card stored in a groove or a concave portion becomes complicated. Thus, the problem has arisen that it is difficult to reduce costs and reduce the weight of the portable information terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is proposed to solve the above problems and has the object of providing a portable information terminal provided with a connector which can reduce the occupied area of the circuit board by a connector or connector-related elements in a portable information terminal main body.
The present invention has a further object of providing a portable information terminal provided with a connector which has a simple structure.
According to the present invention, there is provided a portable information terminal comprising a housing forming a portable information terminal main body, a circuit board provided in the housing, and a connector which has a plurality of connection terminals to be connected to the circuit board and which is formed so as to define a groove for storing an information card, the plurality of connection terminals being arranged on a lateral wall of the connector so as to contact with a plurality of connection terminals provided in the information card, and the plurality of connection terminals of the connector being disposed on a plane which is inclined with respect to the main plane of the circuit board.
In such a way, since the projected area of the connector onto the circuit board is reduced, the occupied area of the circuit board by the connector or the connector-related elements can be reduced.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a portable information terminal comprising a housing forming a portable information terminal main body, a circuit board provided in the housing, and an information card electrically connected with the circuit board, wherein when the information card is attached in the housing so as to be electrically connected with the circuit board, the information card is disposed on a plane inclined with respect to a main plane of the circuit board.
In such a way, since the connector to which the information card is attached is also disposed inclined with respect to the main plane of the circuit board, the projected area of the connector onto the circuit board is reduced. Thus, the occupied area of the circuit board by the connector or the connector related elements can be reduced.
The portable information terminal of the present invention may be adapted so that the plurality of connection terminals which are connected with the plurality of connection terminals provided in the information card are arranged on both a lateral walls of the connector which loads the
Frech Karl D.
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Rothwell Figg Ernst & Manbeck
Walsh David
LandOfFree
Portable information terminal does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Portable information terminal, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Portable information terminal will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3005193