JP2001077893A - Adaptor for portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a speech by using a PC card with a simple configuration. SOLUTION: The portable terminal adaptor 1 is provided with an indispensable configuration to a speech (a keyboard 3, a liquid crystal display section 4, a speaker 8, a microphone 9 and a battery 11) in which a PC card is deficient. Furthermore, the portable terminal adaptor 1 is provided with a PC card control section 7 having an interface function to intervene communication of information between the portable terminal adaptor 1 and the PC card, and with an audio interface section 10. Mounting the PC card onto the portable terminal adaptor 1 acts the PC card like a communication unit freely making a speech. There is plurality of different kinds of communication systems in the PC card, each configuration section of the portable terminal adaptor 1 is in common to each communication system, then a plurality of the PC cards with the different communication systems is properly mounted/replaced onto/ with the mobile terminal adaptor 1 to attain a speech.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable terminal adapter in which a data wireless communication card having a different communication system is removably mounted and the data wireless communication card functions as a communication device capable of voice communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art PCMCIA (Pers.
onal Computer Memory Card International Associatio
n) A card (hereinafter, referred to as a PC card) has a function of, for example, being mounted on a personal computer and transmitting data output from the personal computer on a radio wave, and a function of reading data from the received radio wave and adding the data to the personal computer. This is a card dedicated to data wireless communication having functions. The PC card, which is a data wireless communication card, has a different communication system PH.
S (Personal Handyphone System) card or PDC (Pe
rsonal Digital Cellular telecommunication system)
There are multiple types of cards and the like.

Since the PC card lacks a keyboard for inputting a telephone number, a speaker, a microphone, and other components essential for voice communication, the PC card alone cannot perform voice communication. Therefore, when making a voice call using the PC card, the PC card is connected to a personal computer by a signal, and the voice call is made using a keyboard, a microphone, a speaker, or the like of the personal computer.

[0004]

However, in order to make a voice call using the PC card and the personal computer as described above, application software dedicated to the voice call for making the voice call must be provided to the personal computer. The problem is that carrying a personal computer as a telephone is large and heavy, and the usability is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal adapter which enables a voice call using a PC card with a simple structure and is easy to use. Is to do.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has the following structure to solve the above-mentioned problem. That is, the mobile terminal adapter of the first invention is a mobile terminal adapter that detachably attaches and uses a data wireless communication card having a different communication method, and the data wireless communication card having the different communication method has an antenna. A dedicated data wireless communication circuit is provided for each corresponding communication method, and the mobile terminal adapter includes at least a telephone number dial input unit for dialing a telephone number, and a speaker and a microphone necessary for voice communication. A configuration common to the communication systems is collectively formed, and a means for solving the above-mentioned problem is provided by mounting a data wireless communication card and making the data wireless communication card function as a communication device capable of voice communication.

[0007] A portable terminal adapter according to a second aspect of the invention has the configuration of the first aspect, and is characterized in that a power supply unit for supplying power to the data wireless communication card is provided.

[0008] A portable terminal adapter according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises the configuration of the first or second aspect, and displays an operation status of the data radio communication card on the screen based on an operation status notification signal output from the data radio communication card. It is characterized in that display means for displaying is provided.

A portable terminal adapter according to a fourth aspect of the present invention has the configuration of the first, second, or third aspect of the present invention, and is provided with storage means. It is characterized in that a telephone number registration control unit for controlling one or both of deletion of a number from a storage means is provided.

[0010] As described above, the data wireless communication card (PC card), which is indispensable for voice communication, does not include some components such as a speaker and a microphone. Could not make a call. The portable terminal adapter according to the present invention has at least a configuration indispensable for a voice call lacking in the data wireless communication card. For this reason, by attaching the data wireless communication card to the mobile terminal adapter, the functions required for the voice call that the data wireless communication card does not have are supplemented by the data wireless communication card. It is possible to function as a communication device that can freely talk.

[0011] The above-mentioned portable terminal adapter need only be provided with a configuration necessary for voice communication, which is lacking in the data wireless communication card. Just like carrying a mobile phone, it is possible to carry out a voice call in the same manner as a general mobile phone by carrying a mobile terminal adapter equipped with a data wireless communication card. Further, the usability can be remarkably improved as compared with a case where a data wireless communication card is mounted on a personal computer to make a voice call.

In addition, since the portable terminal adapter has a common configuration for each communication system, if one portable terminal adapter is provided, a plurality of data wireless communication cards having different communication systems can be freely exchanged. It is an epoch-making thing that can be attached and one mobile terminal adapter enables voice communication of a plurality of communication methods.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a portable terminal adapter characteristic of the first embodiment together with a main configuration of a PC card which is a data wireless communication card, and FIG. An example of the shape of the terminal adapter is schematically shown together with an example of the shape of the PC card.

As described above, the PC card includes the modem card 20 shown in FIG.
iple Access) card 21, PDC card 22, PHS
There are a plurality of types, such as a card 23, having different communication methods. These various PC cards include a signal processing circuit 26 as shown in FIG. 1, an RF circuit 27 and an antenna 28 corresponding to the type of communication system, a control unit 29, and the like.
And an audio data input / output unit 30 having an earphone microphone terminal and a handset interface. The shape and size of the case 25 of a commercially available PC card are determined by standards.

In such a PC card, the transmission signal obtained by the signal processing of the signal processing circuit 26 is an RF signal.
The frequency is converted into a carrier wave (radio wave) according to the communication system by the circuit 27, and is transmitted wirelessly from the antenna 28 to the outside. The radio wave received by the antenna 28 is transmitted to the RF circuit 2
The frequency conversion is performed by 7 to generate a signal for data processing, and the signal for data processing is applied to the signal processing circuit 26 to perform signal processing.

The audio data input / output unit 30 has a configuration for mediating the exchange of audio information between the outside and the signal processing circuit 26. An audio signal input from the outside via the audio data input / output unit 30 is subjected to signal processing by the signal processing circuit 26 and can be wirelessly transmitted as described above. The audio signal obtained through the processing circuit 26 can be output to the outside through the audio data input / output unit 30. Further, the control unit 29 controls the communication operation of the PC card.

The signal processing circuit 26, the RF circuit 27, the antenna 28, the control unit 29, and the audio data input / output unit 30 provided on the PC card have various configurations. In the embodiment, each of the components 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 may have an arbitrary configuration, and a description of the configuration will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the characteristic mobile terminal adapter 1 of the first embodiment has a housing 2, and a keyboard 3 and display means are provided on the outer surface of the housing 2. A liquid crystal display unit 4 is formed. The keyboard 3 includes keys required for voice communication, such as numeric keys as a telephone number dial input unit and command keys for manually issuing a command such as transmission of radio waves.

A card accommodating space (not shown) for accommodating the PC card is formed inside the housing 2 and a portion avoiding the card accommodating space is shown in FIG. Keyboard interface unit 5, AT command processing unit 6, PC card control unit 7, speaker 8, microphone 9, audio interface unit 10 shown
And a battery 11 as a power supply unit.

Further, as shown in FIG.
An opening 13 communicating with the card storage space is formed, and a slide guide portion 14 is formed at an edge of the opening 13.
a and 14b are formed to protrude. The slide guides 14a and 14b guide the PC card and slide the PC card from the opening 13 into the card storage space.

As shown in FIG. 2, there are two types of commercially available PC cards, such as a modem card 20, which has a substantially equal and thin overall thickness, and a CDM.
There is an A card 21 or the like having a shape having a thin portion having substantially the same thickness as the modem card 20 and a thick portion thicker than the thin portion. The dimensions of the thin portion of the PC card are determined by standards and are almost the same regardless of the type.

In the first embodiment, the card accommodating space of the housing 2 has such a size that the front end side of the thin portion of the PC card fits almost perfectly, and the slide guides 14a, 14b The thin portion of the PC card is slid without rattling.

In the first embodiment, the CDM
When a PC card having a thick portion such as the A card 21 is attached to the portable terminal adapter 1, the front end of the thin portion of the PC card is connected to the slide guide portion 14.
a, 14b to slide along the opening 13 of the housing 2.
When the PC card is inserted into the card accommodating space portion, the thick portion of the PC card is engaged with the protruding ends of the slide guide portions 14a and 14b.
The card is attached to the portable terminal adapter 1 in a form in which the thick portion protrudes from the housing 2. Thus, PC
By exposing the thick part of the card to the outside of the housing 2, the thickness of the housing 2 can be reduced as compared with the case where the thick part of the PC card is accommodated inside the housing 2. The size of the terminal adapter 1 can be reduced.

Normally, the PC card has no power supply and is configured to obtain power from the outside via a power input terminal (not shown). For this reason, in the first embodiment, means (not shown) for electrically connecting the power input terminal of the PC card to the battery 11 of the mobile terminal adapter 1 is formed in the mobile terminal adapter 1. Thus, power is supplied from the battery 11 to the PC card.

The PC card is provided with a data input / output terminal for exchanging data information with the outside. The portable terminal adapter 1 has a data input / output terminal of the PC card and a PC card control unit 7. Means (not shown) for conducting connection are formed. Further, the portable terminal adapter 1 is provided with a means (not shown) for electrically connecting the audio interface unit 10 to the earphone microphone terminal of the PC card. further,
In the first embodiment, the portable terminal adapter 1 is provided with card insertion / extraction detection means (not shown) for detecting whether or not a PC card is inserted.

In the first embodiment, as described above, P
C terminal is a mobile terminal adapter 1 from the tip side of the thin part
In a state in which the PC card is inserted and fitted into the housing 2 and the mounting is completed, the signal processing circuit 26 and the control unit 29 of the PC card are connected to the PC card control unit 7 of the PC card and the PC card The audio data input / output unit 30 is conductively connected to the audio interface unit 10 of the mobile terminal adapter 1, respectively, and the power of the battery 11 of the mobile terminal adapter 1 can be supplied to the PC card.

The liquid crystal display unit 4, keyboard interface unit 5, AT command processing unit 6, speaker 8, and microphone 9 provided in the PC card are the liquid crystal display unit and keyboard provided in a general portable telephone. It has the same configuration as the interface unit, AT command processing unit, speaker, and microphone. These components 5,
There are various types of configurations in the configurations of 6, 8, and 9, respectively. Here, each of the components 5, 6, 8, and 9 may have an arbitrary configuration, and a description thereof will be omitted. .

The PC card control section 7 of the portable terminal adapter 1 mainly mediates the exchange of information between the AT command processing section 6 of the portable terminal adapter 1 and the signal processing circuit 26 and the control section 29 of the PC card. And
It has a configuration that performs various functions as described below. For example, based on the card insertion / extraction detection means, it is monitored whether a PC card is mounted on the mobile terminal adapter 1 or not.

The PC card control unit 7 is provided with information for setting a PC card interface according to the communication system. The PC card control unit 7 identifies the communication system of the mounted PC card. The information (CIS) is read from the PC card, and a PC card interface suitable for the communication mode of the attached PC card is set based on the communication system identification information and the PC card interface setting information.

As described above, by setting the PC card interface, the A of the mobile terminal adapter 1 is set.
T command processing unit 6, PC card signal processing circuit 26
The control unit 29 can exchange information with the PC card control unit 7.

For example, the AT command processing section 6 has a function of creating a command for controlling the communication operation (ie, the operation of the PC card), and the PC card control section 7 outputs the command from the AT command processing section 6. PC
The command for controlling the card is converted into a form suitable for the mounted PC card, and is added to the signal processing circuit 26 and the control unit 29 of the PC card. The PC card control unit 7 includes a signal processing circuit 26 of the PC card and a control unit 29.
When the information is added from the AT command processing section 6, the added information is converted into a form suitable for the AT command processing section 6 and output to the AT command processing section 6.

In some cases, a command for requesting the PC card to report an operation status is output from the AT command processing unit 6 via the PC card control unit 7, and as a response to this command, the PC card sends the PC command. In the first embodiment, when an operation status notification signal is input to the AT command processing unit 6 via the card control unit 7, the AT command processing unit 6 determines the operation status of the PC card based on the operation status notification signal. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 4 on the screen.

Further, the PC card control unit 7
When the user of the mobile terminal adapter 1 issues a power-on command using the keyboard 3, the mobile terminal adapters 1 and P are transmitted in accordance with the power-on command applied from the keyboard 3 via the keyboard interface unit 5.
Turn on the power switch of the C card.

Further, the PC card control unit 7
Is based on the CIS read from the PC card,
There is also provided a configuration for issuing a command in the audio mode suitable for the communication method of the PC card to the audio interface unit 10.

The audio interface unit 10 is provided with information for setting an audio interface suitable for the communication system. The audio interface unit 10 responds to an audio mode command added from the PC card control unit 7 according to the command. An audio interface suitable for the communication method of the installed PC card is set.

When the audio interface is set as described above, when an audio signal is added from the audio data input / output unit 30 of the PC card, the audio interface unit 10 converts the added audio signal into a signal suitable for the speaker 8. The signal is converted into a signal and output to the speaker 8. As a result, a sound based on the sound signal is emitted from the speaker 8. When an audio signal is applied from the microphone 9, the audio interface unit 10 converts the audio signal into an audio signal suitable for a mounted PC card and outputs the audio signal to the PC card. Signal processing is performed by the card, and the signal is carried on a radio wave and transmitted wirelessly.

Further, the PC card has a structure for generating and outputting a ringing tone generation signal for generating a ringing tone for notifying the arrival of the radio wave when a radio wave arrives, and the ringing tone generation signal is transmitted from the PC card to the portable terminal adapter 1. Speaker 8 via the audio interface unit 10
, The speaker 8 emits a ringing tone.

The portable terminal adapter 1 shown in the first embodiment is configured as described above. In the first embodiment, as described above, when the PC card is attached to the mobile terminal adapter 1, the appearance and
The operation for making a voice call is the same as that of a general mobile phone.

According to the first embodiment, the portable terminal adapter 1 is formed by consolidating the components necessary for the voice communication lacking in the PC card. By attaching the PC card, the necessary functions required for the voice call are supplemented by the PC card, and the PC card can be made to function as a communication device that can freely perform the voice call.

The portable terminal adapter 1 is a PC
Since the card only needs to have a configuration that is indispensable for voice communication, it is easy to make the card small and lightweight, and it is light and portable without bulk.

Further, in the first embodiment, when a PC card is attached to the portable terminal adapter 1 to make a voice call, the voice call can be performed by the same operation as a normal mobile phone. Therefore, the usability can be remarkably improved as compared with a case where a PC card is mounted on a personal computer to make a voice call.

Further, the portable terminal adapter 1 shown in the first embodiment is formed by integrating the common configuration for each communication system, so that one portable terminal adapter 1
Arbitrarily exchange multiple PC cards with different communication methods
You can put on and make a voice call. From this,
Compared to carrying around a plurality of portable telephones having different communication methods, it is only necessary to carry one portable terminal adapter 1 and a small and lightweight PC card of a desired communication method, so that carrying becomes easier.

Further, since the portable terminal adapter 1 is provided with an interface such as the PC card control unit 7 and the audio interface unit 10, information can be exchanged between various commercially available PC cards and the portable terminal adapter 1. It becomes possible. For this reason, there is no need to prepare a special PC card to be mounted on the mobile terminal adapter 1, and only by mounting a commercially available PC card on the mobile terminal adapter 1, as described above,
Voice calls can be easily made.

Further, in the first embodiment, since most of the thin portion of the PC card is accommodated in the housing 2 of the portable terminal adapter 1, the portable terminal adapter 1 has a function of protecting the PC card. , And P
The probability of breakage of the C card can be reduced.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that, in addition to the configuration of the mobile terminal adapter 1 of the first embodiment, a telephone number as shown in FIG. The storage means 17 for storing the information and the telephone number registration control unit 18 are formed. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment,
The same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the common components will not be repeated.

The telephone number registration control unit 18 controls the keyboard interface unit 5 from the keyboard 3 when the user of the portable terminal adapter 1 uses the keyboard 3 to input a telephone number registration command and a telephone number to be registered. In accordance with the registration command of the telephone number added via the above, the input telephone number of the registration is written in the storage means 17 and registered.

When the user of the portable terminal adapter 1 uses the keyboard 3 to input a telephone number deletion command and a telephone number to be deleted, the telephone number registration control section 18 sends the keyboard interface section 5 from the keyboard 3.
In accordance with the above-mentioned telephone number deletion order added via
The input deletion telephone number is deleted from the storage unit 17.

According to the second embodiment, the first
Since it has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, the first
As a matter of course, the same effects as those of the embodiment can be obtained, and the storage means 17 for storing the telephone number in the portable terminal adapter 1 and the telephone number registration control section 18 for controlling the registration / deletion of the telephone number. Thus, the telephone number registered in the storage unit 17 of the portable terminal adapter 1 can be commonly used when the PC card is exchanged and used in various ways.

For example, when carrying a plurality of portable telephones having different communication systems and registering telephone numbers in each of the portable telephones, the telephone number registration work is repeated a plurality of times for one telephone number. It is troublesome.

On the other hand, in the second embodiment, only the telephone number is registered in the storage means 17 of one portable terminal adapter 1, and the registered telephone number of the storage means is stored in each communication system. Since they can be used in common, the trouble of registering telephone numbers can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may take various embodiments. For example, in each of the above embodiments, a commercially available PC card is attached to the portable terminal adapter 1, but
For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a data wireless communication card having a communication function dedicated to mounting a mobile terminal adapter different from a commercially available PC card is mounted on the mobile terminal adapter 1.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the PC card is inserted and mounted inside the mobile terminal adapter 1, but the PC card may be mounted outside the mobile terminal adapter 1.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, as described above, a commercially available PC card is connected to the portable terminal adapter 1.
It is supposed to be attached to
Since the external power supply of the C card was indispensable, the mobile terminal adapter 1 was provided with a battery 11, and the power of the battery 11 was supplied to the PC card.
When it is assumed that a data wireless communication card dedicated to mounting a mobile terminal adapter with a built-in power supply is to be mounted in addition to a configuration that performs the same communication function as a commercially available PC card, the battery 11 is connected to the mobile terminal adapter 1. It is not necessary to provide. In this case, the power supply power of the attached data wireless communication card is supplied to the portable terminal adapter 1.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the liquid crystal display unit 4 is formed on the portable terminal adapter 1. However, when the portable terminal adapter 1 is to be further simplified,
The liquid crystal display unit 4 need not be provided.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the audio interface unit 10 is provided in the portable terminal adapter 1. However, for example, it is possible to exchange audio signals with the portable terminal adapter 1 without providing the audio interface unit 10. If only a PC card is to be mounted, the audio interface unit 10 may be omitted.

Further, in addition to the configuration shown in each of the above embodiments, for example, the liquid crystal display unit 4 of the portable terminal adapter 1
, A function of displaying an appropriate time, a vibrator function of notifying an incoming radio wave by vibration, and the like may be provided. Further, in addition to the configuration shown in each of the above-described embodiments, for example, a claw for detachably securing a PC card to the outside of the housing 2 of the mobile terminal adapter 1 or the housing 2 of the mobile terminal adapter 1 A pocket portion or the like for detachably storing a PC card is provided outside the PC, and a PC card different from the PC card which is stored inside the housing 2 and in which voice communication is possible is attached to the portable terminal adapter 1. It is good also as a structure which can be carried. In this case,
Since a plurality of PC cards and the portable terminal adapter 1 can be carried in an integrated state, it is possible to avoid a problem that a desired PC card cannot be found when trying to exchange PC cards.

[0058]

According to the present invention, since the portable terminal adapter is provided with the configuration necessary for the voice call which is lacking in the data wireless communication card, the data wireless communication card is attached to the portable terminal adapter. As a result, the functions required for the insufficient voice call are supplemented by the data wireless communication card, and the data wireless communication card can function as a communication device capable of performing voice calls freely.

Also, since the portable terminal adapter only needs to have a configuration indispensable for the voice call which is lacking in the data wireless communication card, the portable terminal adapter can be easily reduced in size and weight, and can be easily used in a general portable type. It can be easily carried around like a telephone. Furthermore, since a data wireless communication card can be attached to the mobile terminal adapter and voice communication can be performed by the same operation as that of a mobile phone, the data wireless communication card can be connected to a personal computer for voice communication. The usability can be significantly improved as compared with the case of performing.

In addition, according to the present invention, since the portable terminal adapter is formed by integrating the common configuration for each communication system, a plurality of data wireless communication cards having different communication systems can be exchanged for the portable terminal adapter.・ Voice call can be made by wearing.

When it is assumed that the voice communication is performed by changing the communication method depending on the situation, usually, a plurality of portable telephones having different communication methods are carried around.
According to the present invention, it is only necessary to carry one portable terminal adapter and a plurality of small and lightweight data wireless communication cards of different communication systems, so that the problem of being bulky and disturbing to carry is avoided. be able to.

In the case where the power supply unit is provided in the portable terminal adapter, external power can be supplied only by attaching the data wireless communication card to the portable terminal adapter without preparing a separate power supply from the portable terminal adapter. Power can be supplied from the portable terminal adapter to the data wireless communication card which requires the power supply.

If the portable terminal adapter is provided with display means for displaying the operation status of the data wireless communication card, the usability can be further improved.

When the portable terminal adapter is provided with a telephone number registration function, when a plurality of data wireless communication cards having different communication systems are appropriately replaced / attached and a voice call is performed, the portable terminal adapter is provided with the portable terminal adapter. Since the registered telephone number can be used in common for each communication method, the convenience of the mobile terminal adapter can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a main configuration of a portable terminal adapter characteristic of the first embodiment together with a main configuration of a PC card by a block diagram.

FIG. 2 is a model diagram showing an example of a characteristic shape of a portable terminal adapter according to the first embodiment together with examples of shapes of a plurality of PC cards having different communication systems.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a characteristic configuration extracted from a second embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile terminal adapter 3 Keyboard 4 Liquid crystal display part 8 Speaker 9 Microphone 11 Battery 17 Storage means 18 Phone number registration control part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A portable terminal adapter for detachably mounting a data wireless communication card having a different communication system, wherein said data wireless communication card having a different communication system is dedicated to a communication system corresponding to an antenna. The mobile terminal adapter has a common configuration for each communication system including at least a telephone number dial input unit for dialing a telephone number, and a speaker and a microphone required for a voice call. A portable terminal adapter which is formed integrally and has a data wireless communication card mounted thereon and causes the data wireless communication card to function as a communication device capable of voice communication. 2. The mobile terminal adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit for supplying power to the data wireless communication card. 3. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: display means for displaying an operation status of the data wireless communication card on a screen based on an operation status notification signal output from the data wireless communication card. Item 6. The mobile terminal adapter according to Item 2. 4. A telephone number registration control unit for controlling one or both of registering a telephone number in the storage unit and deleting a registered telephone number from the storage unit is provided. The mobile terminal adapter according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal adapter is provided.