GB2299192A

GB2299192A - Portable telephones

Info

Publication number: GB2299192A
Application number: GB9522543A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hiroshi Kubo; Hidekatsu Kobayashi; Masashi Tomura; Hisamitsu Takagi
Original assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
Current assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
Priority date: 1995-03-20
Filing date: 1995-11-03
Publication date: 1996-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-03
Also published as: GB9522543D0; DE19543731C2; DE19543731A1; JPH08265404A; JP3439868B2; GB2299192B

Description

PORTABLE TELEPHONES The present invention relates to portable telephones,

for example to a portable telephone using an IC card for subscriber identification.

In recent years, the development of mobile communications equipment, for example portable telephones, has been remarkable. In the region of Europe, the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is primarily adopted for a digital cellular telephone. In the GSM an IC card is primarily used as an SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) for subscriber identification, and size reduction of a portable telephone applied to such an SIM is desired.

As an IC card having an integrated circuit including a memory storing subscriber information, both a large card and a small card are conventionally used. The large card is a standard card defined by IS07816, and has the size of about 85.7 mm (W) x 54.0 mm (H). The small card is a card formed by removing an IC chip portion (carrier portion) from the standard card, and has the reduced size of about 25 mm (W) x 15 mm (H). The portable telephone is actually used by setting either the large card or the small card into the portable telephone, thereby identifying subscriber information such as subscriber's telephone number.

Currently portable telephones can utilise only one of the large card and the small card, so that a user can only use a private portable telephone adapted for his own SIM. Accordingly, for example, a portable telephone rental company must prepare both a portable telephone for the large card and a portable telephone for the small card to conform with an SIM owned by any user. we have now realised that it could be possible to design a portable telephone which includes two acceptors for respectively receiving the two kinds of cards. However, such a design would cause an increase 12299192 in size of the portable telephone.

Various aspects of the invention are exemplified by the attached claims.

An embodiment of a further aspect of the present invention, can provide a portable telephone applicable commonly to both a large card and a small card each having an integrated circuit including a memory storing subscriber information and also having electrodes co ' nnected to the integrated circuit, comprising a housing having a first opening for allowing insertion of the large card and a second opening for allowing insertion of the small card; a printed wiring board unit stored in the housing and having a main printed wiring board on which electronic circuit components are mounted; an acceptor juxtaposed to the printed wiring board unit, the acceptor having first means for receiving and positioning the large card when the large card is inserted from the first opening, and second means for receiving and positioning the small card when the small card is inserted from the second opening so that positions of the electrodes of the small card inserted coincide with positions of the electrodes of the large card when inserted; and contact means connected to the printed wiring board unit and adapted to come into contact with the electrodes of one of the large card and the small card received by the acceptor.

Accordingly, when any one of the large card and the small card is inserted, the electrodes of either the large card or the small card can be electrically connected to the printed wiring board unit by the common contact means, thereby reducing the size of the portable telephone applicable commonly to both the large card and the small card.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1"is a plan view of a portable telephone in a condition where a flipper is closed; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the portable telephone shown in Fig. 1 in the condition where the flipper is open; Fig. 3 is a view illustrating first to sixth modes of insertion of a large card in an embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 4A, 4B, and 4C are a sectional side view, a plan view, and a bottom end view respectively, of a first portable telephone of embodying the present invention; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the portable telephone of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of part of the portable telephone of Fig. 4; Figs. 7A and 7B are sectional views illustrating insertion of a large card in the Fig. 4 embodiment; Figs. 8A and 8B are sectional views illustrating insertion of a small card in the Fig. 4 embodiment; Figs. 9A and 9B are a plan view and a side view respectively of an acceptor in the Fig. 4 embodiment; Figs. 10A and 10B are a plan view and a side view respectively of a first modification of the acceptor; Figs. 11A, 11B and 11C are sectional views illustrating detection of the large card in the first modification; Figs. 12A, 12B, and 12C are sectional views illustrating detection of the small card in the first modification; Figs. 13A and 13B are a plan view and a side view respectively of a second modification of the acceptor; Figs. 14A and 14B are a plan view and a side view respectively of a third modification of the acceptor; Figs. 15A and 15B are a plan view and a side view respectivel y of a fourth modification of the acceptor; Figs. 16A and 16B are sectional views illustrating the operation of a dust cover in the Fig. 4 embodiment; Figs. 17A and 17B are perspective views illustrating the operation of a modification of the dust cover; Figs. 18A and 18B are a plan view and a sectional view, respectively, illustrating an improvement of the structure shown in Figs. 17A and 17B; Figs. 19A, 19B, and 19C are a sectional view, a plan view, and a bottom end view respectively, of a second portable telephone of embodying the present invention; Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the portable telephone of Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is an exploded perspective view of the portable telephone of Fig. 19; Figs. 22A, 22B, and 22C are a sectional view, a plan view, and a bottom end view respectively, of a third portable telephone embodying the present invention; Fig. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the portable telephone of Fig. 22; Figs. 24A, 24B, and 24C are a sectional view, a plan view, and a bottom end view respectively of a fourth portable telephone embodying the present invention; Fig. 25 is an exploded perspective view of the portable telephone of Fig. 24; 30 Figs. 26A, 26B, and 26C are a sectional view, a plan view, and a bottom end view respectively of a fifth portable telephone embodying of the present invention; Fig. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the portable telephone of Fig. 26; Fig. 28 is a perspective view of the portable telephone ckf Fig. 26; Fig. 29 is a perspective view of part of a sixth portable telephone embodying the present invention; Fig. 30 is an exploded perspective view of the part shown in Fig. 29; and Fig. 31 is an exploded perspective view of a printed wiring board unit.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portable telephone to which the present invention may be applied, in the condition where a flipper 4 is closed, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the portable telephone shown in Fig. 1 in the condition where the flipper 4 is open. Reference numeral 2 denotes a housing in which a printed wiring board unit to be hereinafter described is stored. The housing 2 is provided at its one end with the flipper 4 which is pivotably mounted. The housing 2 is further provided with an antenna 6 adapted to be pulled out of the housing 2, a strap 8, a receiver portion 10 incorporating a speaker, a volume switch 12 for changing a ringing volume, a display portion 14 incorporating a liquid crystal display (LCD), a key operating portion 16 from which a plurality of key switches for dialling and function selection are exposed, a transmitter portion 18 incorporating a microphone, and an interface connector adapted to be used for the connection with an on-vehicle adapter or an external antenna. These elements are arranged in this order from the side opposite to the flipper 4 side.

The housing 2 is composed of a front case 22 for the receiver portion 10, the display portion 14, the key operating portion 16, the transmitter portion 18, and the flipper 4, and a rear case 26 for detachably holding a battery pack 24. The flipper 4 functions to cover the key operating portion 16 when closed, and also functions as a voice reflecting and collecting board for t he transmitter portion 18 when opened.

Fig. 3 illustrates first to sixth modes of insertion of a large card in an embodiment of the present invention. Although not shown, various modes of insertion of a small card will be individually described in various preferred embodiments to be hereinafter described. Reference numeral 72 denotes a main printed wiring board on which electronic circuit components (not shown) are mounted. The main printed wiring board 72 is positioned substantially on the plane of connection between the front case 22 and the rear case 26. For the sake of convenience of description, portions of the front case 22 corresponding to the transmitter portion 18 and the receiver portion 10 (see Fig. 2) will be hereinafter referred to as a first end portion 22A and a second end portion 22B, respectively; portions of the rear case 26 corresponding to the first end portion 22A and the second end portion 22B will be hereinafter referred to as a third end port:ion 26A and a fourth end portion 26B, respectively; and a portion of the rear case 26 for mounting or removing the battery pack 24 will be hereinafter referred to as a battery portion 26C. In Fig. 3, the cross section of the large card in each insertion mode is shown by hatching.

In the first mode, the large card is inserted through the fourth end portion 26B into between the rear case 26 and the main printed wiring board 72 as shown by an arrow A.

In the second mode, the large card is inserted through the second end portion 22B into between the front case 22 and the main printed wiring board 72 as shown by an arrow B. In the third mode, the large card is inserted 3S through the third end portion 26A into between the rear case 26 end the main printed wiring board 72 as shown by an arrow C.

In the fourth mode, the large card is inserted through the first end portion 22A into between the front case 22 and the main printed wiring board 72 as shown by an arrow D.

In the fifth mode, the large card is inserted through the battery portion 26C into between the rear case 26 and t:he main printed wiring board 72 as shown by an arrow E.

In the sixth mode, the large card is inserted into the flipper 4 as shown by an arrow F.

Figs. 4A, 4B, and 4C are a sectional view, a plan view, and a bottom end view respectively of a first portable telephone embodying the present invention; and Figs. 5 and 6 are exploded perspective views of the portable telephone of Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, each component is viewed from the front case 22 side, and in Fig. 6, each component is viewed from the rear case 26 side. Referring to Fig. 5, a transparent LCD cover 30 is mounted on the display portion 14 of the front case 22, and the flipper 4 is pivotably mounted on the front case 22 by a shaft 32, a clipper 34, and a cap 36. Reference numeral 38 denotes a key having a shape corresponding to that of the key operating portion 16; 40 denotes a printed wiring board unit; 42 denotes a key for the volume switch 12 (see Fig. 2); 46 denotes an acceptor for receiving a large card LC and a small card SC; 48 denotes a slide button used to remove the large card LC held in the acceptor 46; and 50 denotes pipe in which a root portion of the antenna 6 is stored.

All of the key 38, the printed wiring board unit 40, the key 42, the acceptor 46, the slide button 48, and the pipe 50 are stored in a space defined between the front case 22 and the rear case 26 connected a together by.screws 52. The rear case 26 has a first opening 54 for allowing insertion of the large card LC and a second opening 56 for allowing insertion of the small card SC. The first opening 54 is covered with a cover 58 and a dust cover 60. The dust cover 60 is opened or closed by inserting or removing the large card LC. Reference numeral 62 denotes a spring for biasing the dust cover 60. The rear cover 26 has a cover 64 for openably closing the second opening 56.

As best shown in Fig. 6, a contact assembly 68 is used to electrically connect to the printed wiring board unit 40 electrodes of either the large card LC or the small card SC accepted by the acceptor 46. The contact assembly 68 has contacts 66 adapted to come into contact with the electrodes of either the large card LC or the small card SC. The contact assembly 68 is connected to the main printed wiring board 72 of the printed wiring board unit 40 and is mounted at an opening 70 of the acceptor 46. The first opening 54 for allowing insertion of the large card LC is formed at the fourth end portion 26B of the rear case 26.

The acceptor 46 can receive the large card LC inserted through the first opening 54. To position the large card LC in the acceptor 46, the acceptor 46 has a plate 73 having a shape corresponding to that of the large card LC and a large guide 74 integrally formed with the plate 73 and adapted to come into close contact with the outer peripheral edge of the large card LC. The acceptor 46 can also receive the small card SC inserted through the second opening 56 when the large card LC is not inserted. To make the positions of the electrodes of the small card SC in the acceptor 46 coincide with the positions of the electrodes of the large card LC when received in the acceptor 46, the acceptor 46 has four small guides 76, 78, 80, and 82 for positioning the four corners of the small card SC.

-g- The four small guides 76, 78, 80, and 82 may be replaced by three small guides.

In this preferred embodiment, the small guides 76, 78, 80, and 82 are formed integrally with the plate 73, and they are elastically deformable. Each of the small guides 76, 78, 80, and 82 has a taper T for facilitating elastic deformation and retraction of each small guide from an insertion path of the large card LC inserted through the first opening 54. Accordingly, when the large card LC is inserted, the small guides 76, 78, 80, and 82 operate to elastically press the large card LC against the rear case 26. Furthermore, the formation of the taper T on each small guide facilitates the insertion of the large card LC.

The slide button 48 slidably mounted on the rear case 26 serves to facilitate the removal of the large card LC held in the acceptor 46. When the large card LC is held in the acceptor 46, the slide button 48 has a position on the third end portion 26A side. In removing the large card LC from the acceptor 46, the slide button 48 is operated to slide toward the fourth end portion 26B in such a manner that a small projection 86 of the slide button 48 passes over an elastically deformable projection 84 formed integrally with the plate 73. Accordingly, the large card LC is pushed by the slide button 48, thereby facilitating the removal of the large card LC. The cover 64 has a pair of pins 88 on the fourth end portion 26B side, and also has a pair of platelike projections 90 on the third end portion 26A side. Further, the rear case 26 has a pair of elongated holes 92 at positions respectively corresponding to the pins 88, and also has a pair of stop lugs 94 adapted to respectively engage the platelike projections 90. The pins 88 are rotatable and slidable within the respective elongated holes 92. The opening/closing operation of the cover 64 will be described later.

The operation in inserting the large card LC will now be described with reference to Figs. 7A and 7B. When the large card LC starts to be inserted through the first opening 54 as shown in Fig. 7A, the front end of the large card LC first presses down the small guides 78 and 80. When the large card LC is further inserted, the front end of the large card LC then presses down the small guides 82 and 76 as shown in Fig. 7B. In the condition shown in Fig. 7B, the large card LC is elastically pressed back by the small guides 76, 78, 80, and 82 against the rear case 26. Thus, the large card LC is positioned within the acceptor 46 to maintain this position. In this position, the contacts 66 of the contact assembly 68 are in contact with the electrodes (not shown) of the large card LC.

The operation in inserting the small card SC will now be described with reference to Figs. 8A and 8B. When the cover 64 is in an open condition as shown in Fig. 8A, the pins 88 are positioned on the fourth end portion 26B side within the respective elongated holes 92. In this open condition, the small card SC is inserted through the second opening 56 into the acceptor 46, and is positioned by the small guides 76, 78, 80, and 82. Then, the cover 64 is closed and then moved to slide the pins 88 within the respective elongated holes 92 away from the fourth end portion 26D until the platelike projections 90 of the cover 64 overlap the stop lugs 94 of the rear case 26 as shown in Fig. 82. Thus, the closed condition of the cover 64 is maintained. In this closed condition, the small card SC is pressed on the acceptor 46 by the cover 64, thereby ensuring the contact condition between the electrodes (not shown) of the small card SC and the contacts 66.

In removing the large card LC, the slide button 48 (see Fig. 6) is operated to push the front end of the large card LC toward the fourth end portion 26B, thereby allowing the large card LC to be easily removed. Although the slide button 48 is provided on 5 one side surface of the rear case 26 as shown in Fig. 6, the slide button may be provided on the battery portion 26C, so as to prevent undue removal of the large card LC.

Figs. 9A and 9B are a plan view and a side view of the acceptor 46, respectively. The large guide 74 for positioning the large card LC at its periphery has a pair of elastically deformable projections 96 integrally formed therewith at positions corresponding to both side edges of the large card LC, thereby compensating for the pressing force of the small guides 76, 78, 80, and 82 applied to the large card LC if this force is small. In this preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 9A and 9B, each contact 66 of the contact assembly 68 has an elastically deformable terminal 98 formed integrally therewith. The terminal 98 is adapted to come into pressure contact with the main printed wiring board 72, thereby making electrical contact between each contact 66 and a conductor pattern formed on the main printed wiring board 72.

Figs. 10A and 10B are a plan view and a side view of a first modification of the acceptor 46, respectively. In this modification, a microswitch 100 for detecting the presence or absence of the large card LC or the small card SC in the acceptor 46 is mounted on the main printed wiring board 72. Further, the contact assembly 68 is further provided with switch contacts 102, 104, and 106. A movable portion 100A of the microswitch 100 is positioned in the insertion path of the large card LC through an opening 73A of the plate 73.

The operation in detecting the large card LC will now be desc_ribed with reference to Figs. 11A, 11B, and 11C. In the condition where the large card LC is not yet inserted, the cover 64 remains closed, and the switch contacts 102 and 104 are kept conductive by a metal plate 108 provided at the front end of the cover 64. Accordingly, the power is on in this condition. When the large card LC starts to be inserted as shown in Fig. 11A, the movable portion 100A of the microswitch 100 is pressed down by the large card LC to turn the power off. That is, when the electrodes of the large card LC are not yet in sure contact with the contacts 66, the power is kept off (Fig. 11B).

when the large card LC is fully inserted as shown in Fig. 11C, the switch contact 106 is pressed down by the large card LC to come into contact with an auxiliary contact 110. Accordingly, the power is turned on. In this manner, only when the electrodes of the large card LC are in sure contact with the contacts 66, the power is kept on, thereby eliminating the possibility of failure of an integrated circuit incorporated in the large card LC.

The operation in detecting the small card SC will now be described with reference to Figs. 12A, 12B, and 12B. The small card SC is inserted into the acceptor 46 in the open condition of the cover 64 as shown in Fig. 12A, and the cover 64 is then closed as shown in Fig. 12B. In this closed condition, the power is yet off. When the cover 64 is slid leftward as shown in Fig. 12C, the switch contacts 102 and 104 come into conduction through the metal plate 108, thereby turning the power on. In this manner, also in using the small card SC, the power is kept on only when the electrodes of the small card SC are in sure contact with the contacts 66, thereby eliminating adverse effects on an integrated circuit incorporated in the small card SC.

Figs. 13A and 13B are a plan view and a side view of a second modification of the acceptor 46, respectively. The contact assembly 68 has six terminals 112 respectively integral with the six contacts 66, and also has three terminals 114, 116, and 118 respectively integral with the switch contacts 102, 104, and 106. The terminals 112, 114, 116, and 118 are connected by soldering to the main printed wiring board 72. Accordingly, in this modification, in fabricating the printed wiring board unit 40, the contact assembly 68 can be preliminarily mounted on the main printed wiring board 72.

Figs. 14A and 14B are a plan view and a side view of a third modification-of the acceptor 46, respectively. In this modification, each contact is formed integrally with the plate 73 rather than using the contact assembly as a component independent of the acceptor 46. Reference numeral 120 denote six contacts adapted to come into contact with the electrodes of either the large card LC or the small card SC inserted; reference numeral 124 denote switch contacts for detecting closure of the cover 64; and reference numeral 126 denotes a switch contact for detecting insertion of the large card LC to a given position.

Figs. 15A and 15B are a plan view and a side view of a fourth modification of the acceptor 46, respectively. In contrast with the structure shown in Figs. 14A and 14B wherein a rubber connector 130 is used to connect each contact with the main printed wiring board 72, this modification is characterized in that a flexible printed wiring board 131 is used to connect each contact with the main printed wiring board 72. The use of the flexible printed wiring board 131 allows a low accuracy of positioning of the acceptor 46 or the main printed wiring board 72.

The operation of the dust cover 60 will now be described with reference to Figs. 16A and 16B. When the large card LC is not used as shown in Fig. 16A, the dust cover 64 is kept closed by the spring 62, thereby preventing entry of rainwater or dust into the rear case 26 through the first opening 54. When the large card LC is inserted as shown in Fig. 16B, the dust cover 60 is opened by the insert operation of the large card LC, and the large card LC itself functions to prevent the entry of rainwater or dust.

Figs. 17A and 17B are perspective views showing a modification of the dust cover. In this modification, the cover 58 itself serves also as a dust cover rather than using the dust cover 60 as a component independent of the cover 58 shown in Figs. 16A and 16B. That is, the cover 58 in this modification is pivotably mounted on the rear case 26 by a hinge 132. When the large card LC is not used, the cover 58 is kept closed as shown in Fig. 17A. When the large card LC is used, the cover 58 is opened to allow insertion of the large card LC as shown in Fig. 17B.

Figs. 18A and 18B show an improvement of the structure shown in Figs. 17A and 17B. That is, a roller 134 adapted to be rotated by the insert operation or the removal operation of the large card LC is provided in the vicinity of the fourth end portion 26B of the rear case 26. Particularly in drawing off the large card LC, the large card LC is pressed over the rear case 26 to thereby rotate the roller 134, thereby reducing friction between the large card LC and the rear case 26 to facilitate the removal of the large card LC.

Figs. 19A, 19B, and 19C are a sectional view, a plan view, and a bottom end view of a portable telephone, respectively, in a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the portable telephone in the second preferred embodiment; and Fig. 21 is an exploded -is- perspective view of the portable telephone in the second preferred embodiment. In this preferred embodiment, the acceptor 46 is located between the front case 22 and the main printed wiring board 72, and the first opening for allowing insertion of the large card LC and the dust cover 60 are provided at the second end portion 22B of the front case 22 (see Fig. 21). Further, the key operating portion 16 is formed independently of the front case 22 so as to be openable with respect to the front case 22, so that when the key operating portion 16 is opened, the second opening for allowing insertion of the small card SC is defined. More specifically, a frame 134 is pivotably mounted on the front case 22 by a hinge 136. A key module 138, the key 38, and the key operating portion 16 are laminated together on the frame 134. Thus, such a laminate on the frame 134 can be opened and closed with respect to the front case 22.

In this preferred embodiment, to prevent interference of a liquid crystal display 140 (see Fig. 19M with the large card LC during the insertion thereof, the liquid crystal display 140 is mounted on a subprinted wiring board 142, and the subprinted wiring board 142 is connected through a flexible printed wiring board (not shown) to the main printed wiring board 72.

Figs. 22A, 22B, and 22C are a sectional view, a plan view, and a bottom end view of a portable telephone, respectively, in a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the portable telephone in the third preferred embodiment. This preferred embodiment is characterized in that the first opening for allowing insertion of the large card LC is formed at the third end portion 26A of the rear case 26, in that the acceptor 46 is located between the rear case 26 and the main printed wiring board 72, and in that the second opening 56 for allowing insertion of the small card SC is formed at a position in the battery portion 26C of the rear case 26 opposed to the acceptor 46.

If a feed terminal for connecting the battery pack 24 and the main printed wiring board 72 were integral with the connector 20 in this structure, the insertion of the large card LC would be hindered by the feed terminal. To avoid this problem, a feed terminal 144 is provided on the rear case 26, and is connected through a flexible printed wiring board 146 to the main printed wiring board 72- Further, to facilitate the removal of the large card LC, the third end portion 26A of the rear case 26 has a pair of recesses 142 for allowing exposure of two of the four corners of the large card LC inserted.

Figs. 24A, 24B, and 24C are a sectional view, a plan view, and a bottom end view of a portable telephone, respectively, in a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 25 is an exploded perspective view of the portable telephone in the fourth preferred embodiment. This preferred embodiment is characterized in that the first opening for allowing insertion of the large card LC is formed at the first end portion 22A of the front case 22, in that the acceptor 46 is located between the front case 26 and the main printed wiring board 72, and in that the second opening for allowing insertion of the small card SC is defined by opening the key operating portion 16 pivotably mounted on the front case 22. The opening/closing mechanism of the key operating portion 16 is similar to that in the second preferred embodiment described with reference to Fig. 21. In particular, to facilitate the removal of the large card LC inserted, the first end portion 22A of the front case 22 hasa pair of recesses 148 for allowing exposure of two of the four corners of the large card LC.

Figs. 26A, 26B, and 26C are a sectional view, a plan view, and a bottom end view of a portable telephone, respectively, in a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the portable telephone in the fifth preferred embodiment; and Fig. 28 is a perspective view of the portable telephone in the fifth preferred embodiment. This preferred embodiment is characterized in that the acceptor 46 is located between the rear case 26 and the main printed wiring board 72, and in that a rear case cover 150 is openably provided at the battery portion 26C of the rear case 26, wherein when the rear case cover 150 is opened, the first and second openings (common opening) for respectively allowing insertion of the large card LC and the small card SC are defined. As best shown in Fig. 28, after removing the battery pack 24, the rear case cover 150 is opened to allow insertion of the large card LC into the acceptor 46. The small card SC can also be inserted similarly when the large card LC is not ground for the second surface 72B in the main printed wiring board 72 can be separated from each other. Conventionally, in many cases, shielding is provided by metallizing the inner surfaces of the front case and the rear case, so that the electrical characteristics of the conventional portable telephone cannot be tested until it is assembled to the form of final product. To the contrary, the electrical characteristics of the portable telephone employing the printed wiring board unit fabricated in the above-mentioned procedure can be tested before storing the unit into the rear case and the front case.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A portable telephone, into which an IC card is removably insertable, the telephone including:

a first reception means adapted to receive an IC card of a first size; a second reception means adapted to receive an IC card of a second size; and a contact means which is adapted to connect with a contact region of an IC card inserted into either of the first or second reception means, the reception means being arranged to position the cards so that their respective contact regions overlap a common portion of the contact means.

2. A portable telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact means has a contact portion arranged to contact the contact region of both cards.

3. A portable telephone applicable commonly to both a large card and a small card each having an integrated circuit including a memory storing subscriber information and also having electrodes connected to said integrated circuit, comprising: a housing having a first opening for allowing insertion of said large card and a second opening for allowing insertion of said small card; 25 a printed wiring board unit stored in said housing and having a main printed wiring board on which electronic circuit components are mounted; an acceptor juxtaposed to said printed wiring board unit, said acceptor having first means for receiving and positioning said large card when said large card is inserted from said first opening, and second means for receiving and positioning said small card when said small card is inserted from said second opening so that positions of said electrodes of said small card inserted coincide with positions of said electrodes of said large card when inserted; and contac-t means connected to said printed wiring board unit and adapted to come into contact with said electrodes of one of said large card and said small card received by said acceptor.

4. A portable telephone according to claim 3, wherein said housing comprises: a front case having a first end portion corresponding to a transmitter portion and a second end portion corresponding to a receiver portion; and 10 a rear case having a third end portion corresponding to said first end portion, a fourth end portion corresponding to said second end portion, and a battery portion for detachably holding a battery pack.

5. A portable telephone according to claim 4, wherein:

said first opening is formed at said fourth end portion of said rear case; said acceptor is located between said rear case and said main printed wiring board; and said second opening is formed at a position in said battery portion opposed to said acceptor.

6. A portable telephone according to claim 5, wherein said rear case further has an openable dust cover provided at said first opening.

7. A portable telephone according to claim 4, wherein:

said first opening is formed at said second end portion of said front case; said acceptor is located between said front case and said main printed wiring board; said front case further has an openable key operating portion between said transmitter portion and said receiver portion; and said second opening is defined by opening said key operating portion.

8. A.portable telephone according to claim 4, wherein:

said first opening is formed at said third end portion of said rear case; said acceptor is located between said rear case and said main printed wiring board; and said second opening is formed at a position in said battery portion opposed to said acceptor.

9. A portable telephone according to claim 8, wherein said third end portion of said rear case has a pair of recesses for allowing exposure of two of four corners of said large card inserted.

10. A portable telephone according to claim 4, wherein:

said first opening is formed at said first end portion of said front case; said acceptor is located between said front case and said main printed wiring board; said front case further has an openable key operating portion between said transmitter portion and said receiver portion; and said second opening is defined by opening said key operating portion.

11. A portable telephone according to claim 10, wherein said first end portion of said front case has a pair of recesses for allowing exposure of two of four corners of said large card inserted.

12. A portable telephone according to claim 4, wherein: 30 said acceptor is located between said rear case and said main printed wiring board; said rear case further has an openable rear case cover at said battery portion; and said first and second openings are defined by opening said rear case cover.

13. A portable telephone according to claim 4, wherein:

said front case further has a key operating portion provided between said transmitter portion and said receiver portion, and an openable flipper for covering at least said key operating portion when said flipper is closed; said acceptor is provided in said flipper; and said first and second openings are defined by opening said flipper.

14. A portable telephone according to claim 3, wherein:

said main printed wiring board has a first surface on which highfrequency components are primarily mounted and a second surface on which low-frequency components are primarily mounted; and said printed wiring board unit further has a first shield plate opposed to said first surface and a second shield plate opposed to said second surface.

15. A portable telephone according to claim 3, wherein:

said acceptor includes a plate having a shape corresponding to that of said large card; said first means includes a large guide formed integrally with said plate and adapted to come into close contact with an outer peripheral edge of said large card; and said second means includes at least three small guides formed integrally with said plate for positioning four corners of said small card.

16. A portable telephone according to claim 15, wherein:

said small guides are elastically deformable; and each of said small guides has a taper for facilitating elastic deformation and retraction of each small guide from an insertion path of said large card inserted.

17. A portable telephone according to claim 3, further comprising a slide button slidably mounted on said housing for facilitating removal of said large card from said acceptor.

18. A portable telephone according to claim 3, further comprising means for detecting whether or not one of said large card and said small card is present in said acceptor.

19. A portable telephone according to claim 3, wherein said contact means includes means adapted to come into pressure contact with said main printed wiring board.

20. A portable telephone according to any one of the embodiments substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

is