JP3301129B2 - Portable electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable electronic device in which an IC card reader / writer integrated with a battery pack can be mounted on a portable electronic device body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a portable electronic device such as a cellular phone or a video camera has a battery pack detachably mounted as a power source. These portable electronic devices require the battery pack to be removed and recharged once the battery pack is fully charged, so use as little power as possible.
It is an important technical issue in recent years to extend the life of a battery and extend the use time of a portable electronic device.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventor has attempted to pioneer a new use method not available in conventional portable electronic devices by combining an IC card with the portable electronic device. For example, in recent years, mobile phones whose use has been dramatically increased can be used only for personal use, but if they can be used for public use, the range of use of mobile phones will be expanded. The present inventor has proposed that as a means of publicizing a mobile phone,
It is thought that an IC card should be used and this IC card should have the same function as a telephone card. Since the storage capacity of this IC card is much larger than that of a magnetic card, a new usage method that cannot be considered in the past can be made possible by using the storage data of this IC card.

In this case, in order to read and write data stored in the IC card, it is necessary to attach an IC card reader / writer to the mobile phone. However, if the mobile phone itself has a built-in IC card reader / writer, the mobile phone can be used. As in the prior art, there is a disadvantage that the price of the mobile phone itself becomes high for a user who only uses it for an individual (a user who does not need an IC card reader / writer). In addition, even when the operation of the IC card reader / writer is unnecessary, the power is always supplied from the battery to the IC card reader / writer, so that the power consumption is increased and the battery is quickly consumed. However, there is a disadvantage that the use time of the mobile phone is shortened.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to allow an IC card reader / writer or other externally connected devices to be mounted on a portable electronic device main body by a user's selection. At the same time, the battery pack and IC card reader / writer can be attached to the body of the portable electronic device together with one touch, which is excellent in price, handling, portability (compactness), and low power consumption. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic device that can make a battery last longer.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a portable electronic device according to the present invention selectively mounts an IC card reader / writer integrated with a battery pack and other externally connected devices. A portable electronic device main body configured to obtain, a determination unit for determining which external connection device is attached to the portable electronic device main body, and a portable electronic device main body attached to the portable electronic device main body. Control means for performing processing according to the externally connected device, and means for outputting a control signal for controlling power supply to the externally connected device mounted on the portable electronic device body to the externally connected device. It has a configuration.

[0007]

According to the above configuration, the IC card reader / writer is integrated with the battery pack. Therefore, when an IC card reader / writer is used, the battery pack-integrated IC card reader / writer may be attached to the main body of the portable electronic device. On the other hand, when the IC card reader / writer is unnecessary, the IC card reader / writer may be used. A battery pack similar to the conventional battery pack without a writer may be attached to the portable electronic device body, and other external connection devices may be attached to the portable electronic device body.

In this case, the portable electronic device main body determines which externally connected device is attached to the portable electronic device main body by the judging means, and performs a process according to the externally connected device by the control means. Let it do. In this way, the portable electronic device can be used for multiple purposes, and the range of use of the portable electronic device can be greatly expanded. Moreover, since the IC card reader / writer is integrated with the battery pack, the work of attaching the battery pack and the IC card reader / writer to the main body of the portable electronic device can be performed together with one touch. Further, a power control signal for controlling power supply to the externally connected device mounted on the portable electronic device main body is output from the portable electronic device main body to the externally connected device. The power supply to the connected device can be cut off or set to a low power consumption state, and the battery can last longer.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a portable telephone will be described below with reference to the reference numerals in the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, a power switch 11 and a push-button dial key 1 are provided on a mobile phone main body 10 as a mobile electronic device main body.
2, a display unit 13, an antenna 14, and the like. A speaker and a microphone (both not shown) for a telephone call are built in the upper part and the lower part of the mobile phone body 10, respectively. Further, a battery pack-integrated IC card reader / writer 17 in which a battery pack 15 and an IC card reader / writer 16 are integrated is detachably mounted on the back side of the mobile phone body 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 15 contains a battery 18 composed of a secondary battery and a battery charging circuit 19, and the battery charging circuit 19 is connected to an external power supply for charging (not shown). A charging power supply terminal 20 and a battery temperature detection terminal 21 for detecting the temperature of the battery 18 for preventing overcurrent during rapid charging are provided.

On the other hand, the IC card reader / writer 16
A card insertion slot 23 (see FIG. 3) into which the IC card 22 is inserted is formed. This IC card reader / writer 1
6 includes a CPU 24 and an IC card 22 as shown in FIG.
Card power supply circuit 25 for supplying power to CPU, CPU
An IC card interface 26 for transferring data between the IC card 22 and the IC card 22, an IC card insertion detection switch 27 for detecting whether or not the IC card 22 is correctly inserted, and a power supply voltage monitoring circuit for monitoring a power supply voltage drop 28, a main body interface 29 for transferring data between the CPU 24 and the mobile phone main body 10 is provided. The main body side interface 29 is provided with two transmission / reception terminals RxD and TxD for transmitting / receiving data to / from the mobile phone main body 10.

The output of the battery 18 is supplied to a battery terminal BATT provided on the battery pack 15.
(+), BATT (−), and are supplied to the mobile phone
It is also supplied to the C card reader / writer 16. In order to control the power supply from the battery 18 to the IC card reader / writer 16, the IC card reader / writer 16 is provided with a control terminal CNT, and a power on / off signal (control signal) output from the mobile phone body 10. High level signal / low level signal) to control terminal CNT
To turn on / off the power supply control switch 30.

On the other hand, the cellular phone body 10 does not have a modem or other externally connected devices (for example, a fax or an IC card reader / writer) depending on the user's choice, instead of the battery pack integrated IC card reader / writer 17. Battery pack, etc.).
Each of these externally connected devices is also provided with a control terminal CNT for controlling power supply and a power supply control switch that is turned on / off by an input signal of the control terminal CNT.

The flow of control of the entire operation of the portable telephone constructed as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When the power switch 11 of the mobile phone body 10 is turned on, the process proceeds from step S1 to step S2, where the mobile phone body 10 is initialized. Next, the mobile phone 1 is connected to the control terminal CNT of an externally connected device (any of an IC card reader / writer 16, a modem, and other externally connected devices) mounted on the mobile phone main body 10.
From 0, a power-on signal (high-level signal) is transmitted (step S3), the power supply control switch is turned on, and power is supplied to the externally connected device from a battery built in the externally connected device (step S4). ). Thereafter, after the externally connected device is initialized (step S5), a status command is transmitted from the mobile phone body 10 to the externally connected device through the terminal RxD (step S6).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the portable telephone body 10 has received return data from the IC card reader / writer 16 (step S7).
Then, a power-off signal (low level signal) is transmitted from the mobile phone body 10 to the control terminal CNT of the externally connected device, the power supply control switch is turned off, and the power supply to the externally connected device is forcibly stopped. (Step S1
7). On the other hand, if the mobile phone main body 10 receives the return data from the IC card reader / writer 16 in the above-described step S7, the return data is checked to determine whether the externally connected device is usable (step S8). ). Here, if it is determined that the mobile phone cannot be used, the process proceeds to step S9, a message of “unavailable” is displayed on the display unit 13, and a power-off signal is sent from the mobile phone body 10 to the control terminal CNT of the external device. A low-level signal is transmitted (step S16), the power supply control switch is turned off, and the power supply to the externally connected device is forcibly stopped (step S17).

If the externally connected device is available,
The process proceeds to step S10, where the externally connected device connected to the mobile phone body 10 is an “IC card reader / writer”,
It is determined whether it is "modem" or "other externally connected device" (this step S10 is the
Functions as a determination unit for determining which externally connected device is attached to the device). This step S10
If it is determined that the IC card reader / writer is selected, the process proceeds to step S11 to determine whether the IC card 22 is normal. If the data in the IC card 22 is abnormal or the IC card 22 is not inserted in the IC card reader / writer 16, the process proceeds to step S18, where "IC card abnormal" is displayed.
Then, the power supply control switch 30 is turned off by transmitting a power-off signal from the mobile phone body 10 to the control terminal CNT of the IC card reader / writer 16 to supply power from the battery 18 to the IC card reader / writer 16. Is forcibly stopped (step S17).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S11 that the IC card 22 is normal, the process proceeds to step S12 to perform a call process. If the power switch 11 of the mobile phone main body 10 is turned off after the end of the call, the process proceeds from step S15 to step S16, where a power off signal is transmitted from the mobile phone main body 10 to the control terminal CNT of the IC card reader / writer 16, The power supply control switch 30 is turned off, and the power supply from the battery 18 to the IC card reader / writer 16 is forcibly stopped (step S17).

If it is determined in step S10 that the modem is attached to the portable telephone body 10,
The process proceeds to step S13 to perform data transmission / reception processing using a modem. Other external connection device is mobile phone 1
If it is determined that the device is attached to 0, the process proceeds to step S14, and other processes are performed using another externally connected device. After performing these processes, if the power switch 11 of the mobile phone main body 10 is turned off, the process proceeds from step S15 to step S16, where a power off signal is transmitted from the mobile phone main body 10 to the control terminal CNT of the externally connected device. Then, the power supply control switch is turned off, and the power supply to the externally connected device is forcibly stopped (step S17). In this case, steps S12 to S14 are performed
Function as control means for performing processing according to the externally connected device attached to the device.

Next, the CP of the IC card reader / writer 16
The contents of control by U24 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a power-on signal is input to the control terminal CNT (step S21), the power supply control switch 3
0 is turned on and power is supplied from the battery 18 to the IC card reader / writer 16 (step S22).
The C card reader / writer 16 is initialized (step S23). Thereafter, when a power-off signal is input to the control terminal CNT, the power supply control switch 30 is turned off, and the IC card reader / writer 16
Power supply to the power supply is forcibly stopped (step S24, step S25).

On the other hand, if the input of the control terminal CNT is on, the process proceeds to step S26, and it is determined whether or not the IC card 22 has been forcibly ejected. If the IC card 22 is forcibly ejected, the process proceeds to step S27, where the IC card is forcibly ejected, data is transmitted to the mobile phone body 10 (step S35), and a message is displayed on the display unit 13. If the IC card 22 has not been forcibly ejected, the process proceeds from step S26 to step S28, and it is determined whether a command has been received from the mobile phone body 10. If the command has not been received, the process returns to step S24 described above. If the command has been received, the process proceeds to step S29, where the command is checked to determine whether the command is normal or abnormal. If it is determined that the command is abnormal, the process proceeds to step S34, where command abnormal processing is performed, and then data is transmitted to the mobile phone body 10 (step S35). If it is determined in step S29 that the status is normal, the status check process (step S30), the data read process of the IC card 22 (step S31), and the data write process of the IC card 22 (step S32) are performed according to the command. ), Perform other processing (step S33), and transmit data to the mobile phone body 10 (step S35). Thereafter, the process returns to step S24, and the above-described processing is repeated.

According to the embodiment described above, the IC card reader / writer 16 is integrated with the battery pack 15. Therefore, when the IC card reader / writer 16 is used, the battery pack integrated type IC card reader / writer 17 may be attached to the mobile phone main body 10. On the other hand, when the IC card reader / writer is unnecessary,
A battery pack similar to the conventional one without an IC card reader / writer may be attached to the mobile phone body 10, and other externally connected devices (for example, a modem, a fax, etc.) may be attached to the mobile phone body 10. Is also good.

In this case, the mobile phone main unit 10 determines which externally connected device is attached and performs a process according to the externally connected device.
One mobile phone body 10 can be used for multiple purposes, and the range of use of the mobile phone can be dramatically expanded. Moreover, since the IC card reader / writer 16 is integrated with the battery pack 15, the work of mounting the battery pack 15 and the IC card reader / writer 16 on the main body of the mobile phone 10 can be performed by one touch with one another. In addition to excellent portability, it is also excellent in portability (compactness). In addition, since the external connection device is determined using the transmission terminal TxD and the reception terminal RxD, no extra terminal is required for the determination and the configuration is simplified.

Further, since a power on / off signal for controlling power supply to the externally connected device mounted on the portable telephone body 10 is output from the portable telephone body 10 to the externally connected device, the operation of the externally connected device is unnecessary. In such a case, the power supply to the externally connected device can be cut or the power consumption can be reduced. For this reason, the power consumption of the externally connected device can be reduced, the battery can last longer, and the use time of the mobile phone body 10 can be prolonged. Further, since it is not necessary to incorporate the IC card reader / writer 16 in the mobile phone main body 10, the mobile phone main body 10 can be shared with a conventional mobile phone that does not require the IC card reader / writer 16, and the mobile phone main body 10 Can be reduced in manufacturing cost.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a portable telephone. In addition to the portable telephone, various portables such as a portable fax machine, a video camera, a pager, a notebook computer, an electronic organizer, and the like can be used. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to electronic equipment for use.

In the present embodiment, a power on / off signal is input to the control terminal CNT in synchronization with the power on / off of the power switch 11 of the mobile phone main body 10, so that the IC card reader / writer 16 (external connection device) ) Is controlled, but when the present invention is applied to another portable electronic device, if the operation of the externally connected device is not necessary even while the portable electronic device is powered on, Needless to say, at this time, a power-off signal may be input from the main body of the portable electronic device to the control terminal CNT.

[0025]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a battery pack-integrated IC card reader / writer and other externally connected devices can be selectively mounted on a portable electronic device body. Therefore, one portable electronic device body can be used for multiple purposes, the range of use of the portable electronic device can be expanded, and the cost can be reduced compared with the case where the IC card reader / writer is built in the portable electronic device body. Is also advantageous. In addition, the work of attaching the battery pack and the IC card reader / writer to the main body of the portable electronic device can be performed together with one touch, and the handleability is excellent and the portability (compactness) is excellent. .

Further, a power control signal for controlling power supply to an externally connected device mounted on the portable electronic device body is output from the portable electronic device body to the externally connected device.
When the operation of the externally connected device is unnecessary, the power supply to the externally connected device can be cut or reduced to a low power consumption state, the battery can be used longer, and the usage time of the portable electronic device can be extended. You.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of a battery pack integrated type IC card reader / writer showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mobile phone.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where an IC card is extracted from an IC card reader / writer integrated with a battery pack.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of the entire operation of the mobile phone (part 1);

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of the entire operation of the mobile phone (part 2);

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control contents of an IC card reader / writer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Mobile phone body (portable electronic device body), 11: Power switch, 13: Display unit, 15: Battery pack,
16: IC card reader / writer, 17: battery pack integrated IC card reader / writer, 18: battery,
22: IC card, 30: power supply control switch, CN
T: control terminal, RxD: reception terminal, TxD: transmission terminal.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-153217 (JP, A) JP-A-5-3355993 (JP, A) JP-A-62-249215 (JP, A) 9057 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Hei 6-41247 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06K 17/00 H04M 1/00-1/253 H04M 1/58- 1/62 H04M 1/66-1/82 H04B 7/06-7/38 H04Q 7/00-7/38

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A portable electronic device main body configured to selectively mount an IC card reader / writer integrated with a battery pack and other externally connected devices, and a portable electronic device main body. Determining means for determining which externally connected device is attached to the portable electronic device; anda control unit for performing a process according to the externally connected device attached to the portable electronic device body; and Means for outputting a control signal for controlling power supply to the attached externally connected device to the externally connected device.