GB2290401A

GB2290401A - Electronic information providing device

Info

Publication number: GB2290401A
Application number: GB9411492A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Citron Chang
Original assignee: Inventec Corp
Current assignee: Inventec Corp
Priority date: 1994-06-08
Filing date: 1994-06-08
Publication date: 1995-12-20
Also published as: GB9411492D0

Abstract

An electronic information providing device such as an electronic dictionary includes a housing (50) with a slot (10) for receiving removably an integrated circuit card (40). A cover (20) is mounted detachably to the housing (50) for covering the card slot (10), and is formed with a switch actuator (21) which actuates a switch unit (30) so as to enable a main circuit system (3) when the cover (20) is mounted on the housing (50). The switch unit (30) disables the main circuit system (3) when the cover (20) is removed from the housing (50). <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: ELECTRONIC INFORMATION PROVIDING DEVICE This invention relates to an electronic information providing device, more particularly to an electronic information providing device which is deactivated automatically when it is desired to replace an integrated circuit card thereof.

An integrated circuit card is used in a portable electronic device, such as an electronic dictionary, to extend its memory and to increase the vocabulary of the device. Normally, power to the device should be cutoff before the integrated circuit card is changed.

Otherwise, if the integrated circuit card was replaced while the device is in a power-on state, hanging or errorneous operation of the electronic dictionary may occur.

Usually, a warning label for reminding the user to turn off electrical power to the electronic dictionary prior to changing of the integrated circuit card is attached to an appropriate location of the electronic dictionary. However, such a warning label is usually unnoticed by the user.

It is also known to provide a power switch, which controls the operation of the electronic dictionary, in an appropriate location of the latter so that the switch is activated to turn off power to the electronic dictionary when an integrated circuit card is inserted into the integrated circuit card slot of the electronic dictionary. Such a power switch is not capable of reminding the user to turn on the power of the electronic dictionary before using the same.

Furthermore, if the inserting speed of the integrated card is faster than the switch actuating action of the integrated circuit card, it is possible that electrical connection between the integrated circuit card and the electronic dictionary has already been established before power to the electronic dictionary can be turned off.

The main objective of this invention is to provide an electronic information providing device which is deactivated automatically when it is desired to replace an integrated circuit card thereof so as to overcome the drawbacks commonly associated with the above described prior art.

According to this invention, an electronic information providing device includes a housing which is formed with an integrated circuit card slot for receiving removably an integrated circuit card therein.

A main circuit system is provided in the housing. A cover is mounted detachably to the housing for covering the integrated circuit card slot, and is formed with a switch actuator. A switch means is provided in the housing adjacent to the integrated circuit card slot.

The switch means is connected electrically to the main circuit system and is actuated by the switch actuator so as to enable the main circuit system when the cover is mounted on the housing. The switch means disables the main circuit system when the cover is removed from the housing. The switch means comprises a contact switch with a movable switch contact that is actuated by the switch actuator when the cover is mounted on the housing. Preferably, the contact switch is a normallyopen switch which is closed by said switch actuator when the cover is mounted on the housing.

Other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded view of an electronic information providing device according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating how an integrated circuit card is installed in the electronic information providing device of this invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the electronic information providing device of this invention when a cover thereof is attached to the housing; Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the electronic information providing device of this invention when the integrated circuit card is removed therefrom; and Fig. 5 is a simplified schematic circuit block diagram of the electronic information providing device of this invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the preferred embodiment of an electronic information providing device, such as an electronic dictionary, according to the present invention is shown to include a housing 50 which is formed with an integrated circuit card slot 10 for receiving removably an integrated circuit card 40 therein. A cover 20 is mounted detachably to the housing 50 for covering the integrated circuit card slot 10. The cover 20 is formed with a switch actuator 21. A main circuit system 3 is provided in the housing 50. A switch means 30 is provided in the housing 50 adjacent to the integrated circuit card slot 10. The switch means 30 is connected electrically to the main circuit system 3 and is actuated by the switch actuator 21 so as to enable the main circuit system 3 when the cover 20 is mounted on the housing 50.The switch means 30 disables the main circuit system 3 when the cover 20 is removed from the housing 50. The switch means 30 comprises a contact switch 31 with a movable switch contact 32 that is actuated by the switch actuator 21 when the cover 20 is mounted on the housing 50. Preferably, the contact switch 31 is a normallyopen switch which is closed by the switch actuator 21 when the cover 20 is mounted on the housing 50.

Referring to Fig. 4, when the integrated circuit card 40 is removed from the integrated circuit card slot 21, and the cover 20 is mounted on the housing 50, the switch means 30 is actuated by the switch actuator 21 so that the electronic information providing device is retained in a normal operating state.

Fig. 5 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of the preferred embodiment. Initially, when the power on key 60 is operated for the first time, a control circuit 62 generates a low signal at a Q pin thereof, thereby causing a transistor 64 to conduct and connect electrically a power source 66 to the main circuit system 3. At this stage, when the cover 20 is removed, the switch means 30 is opened, thereby generating a high logic signal at the NMI pin of an applications specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 33 of the main circuit system 3. The high logic signal serves an interrupt signal which causes the main circuit system 3 to initiate a power shutdown routine. The ASIC 33 then generates a control signal via the pin thereof to the control circuit 62.The control circuit 62 responds by generating a high signal at the Q pin thereof, thereby causing the transistor 64 to disconnect the power source 66 and the main circuit system 3. When the cover 20 is mounted, the switch means 30 is closed, thereby generating a low logic signal at the NMI pin of the ASIC 33. The low logic signal is an enable signal which causes the main circuit system 3 to initiate an initialization routine. The ASIC 33 then generates a control signal via the pin thereof to the control circuit 62, thereby causing the control circuit 62 to activate the transistor 64 so as to connect the power source 66 and the main circuit system 3.

When the power on key 60 is operated for the second time, a detect pin of the ASIC 33 receives a low signal. This signal also serves an interrupt signal which causes the main circuit system 3 to initiate the power shutdown routine. The ASIC 33 controls the transistor 64, thereby disconnecting the power source 66 and the main circuit system 3.

Claims

I CLAIM

1. An electronic information providing device comprising: a housing formed with an integrated circuit card slot for receiving removably an integrated circuit card therein; a main circuit system provided in said housing; a cover mounted detachably to said housing for covering said integrated circuit card slot, said cover being formed with a switch actuator; and a switch means provided in said housing adjacent to said integrated circuit card slot, said switch means being connected electrically to said main circuit system and being actuated by said switch actuator so as to enable said main circuit system when said cover is mounted on said housing, said switch means disabling said main circuit system when said cover is removed from said housing.

2. The electronic information providing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch means comprises a contact switch with a movable switch contact that is actuated by said switch actuator when said cover is mounted on said housing.

3. The electronic information providing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said contact switch is a normally-open switch which is closed by said switch actuator when said cover is mounted on said housing.

4. The electronic information providing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.