JP2002125064A - Optioning device for portable information communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optioning device for a portable information communication terminal capable of supplying power to a portable information communication terminal via a power supply output unit and utilizing various type optioning functions by various type PCMCIA cards. SOLUTION: The optioning device for the portable information communication terminal comprises a power supply unit for supplying a power to this optioning device, a power output unit for outputting the power from the optioning device to the portable information communication terminal, at least one or more input/ output terminals, a portable information terminal container, and at least one or more PCMCIA card slots. A card having a control means, a card having a memory means, an I/O card or another PCMCIA card can be connected to and contained in the slot. When the portable information communication terminal is contained in the container, the power is supplied from the optioning unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a portable telephone, a PH
The present invention relates to an optional device of a portable information communication terminal having a wireless communication function, and more particularly, to an optional device capable of supplying power to the portable information communication terminal and adding various optional functions. , And its structure.

[0002]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In recent years, computers and
With the development of networks and communication environments, mobile phones and PH
Information terminals capable of performing wireless communication such as S have exploded. In data communication, in addition to information devices such as personal computers, mobile information terminals, mobile phones, PHS, and information home appliances such as Internet TV and game devices are widely used. Some mobile phones, etc., with a browser function have appeared.
It is also possible to browse eb pages.

[0003] Under such circumstances, it is expected that communication of data and the like using these portable information communication terminals will be performed more and more actively. For these to be successful, advances in technology, such as the communication environment and other hardware and software, are required at the same time. If it is provided on the side, more advanced utilization will be possible. However, if these functions are provided in a terminal that carries a phone call and the like, the weight and the size of the device increase, and the functions required for each user or for each use scene are different. Carrying the functions up would burden the user.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art As a technique for solving such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-65725, "Portable Terminal"
, A mobile terminal having an information terminal body including an input unit, a display unit, a central processing unit, and a memory, a battery, a wireless communication function for transmitting and receiving radio waves, and a handset having a speaker, a microphone, and the like. Discloses a portable terminal in which a wireless communication function portion is detachably attached to the information terminal body portion. According to this,
If you want to make a configuration that can be divided functionally and physically and want to perform both call and data communication, if only data communication is sufficient,
It is possible to provide a compact and optimally shaped information terminal according to the case where wireless communication is unnecessary and the application.
According to this, in a portable information terminal that performs wireless communication,
There are two cases, one for making calls and the other for making data communications.
A technique of a portable terminal that is detachably and functionally and physically configured is disclosed. However, as described above, the present invention is characterized in that it is a device having a configuration for selectively using the two functions of call and data communication. However, for various other uses, the function and physical members can be freely set. It does not correspond to using properly.

[0005] Alternatively, in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-64953 "Tray for storing information equipment", a mobile phone such as a mobile phone, a cordless phone, a simplified mobile phone (PHS) and information terminal equipment such as an electronic organizer and a small personal computer are disclosed. An information device storage tray that can be attached at the same time, comprising: a mobile phone storage portion for storing the mobile phone; and an information terminal storage portion for storing the information terminal device, and the mobile phone storage portion and the information terminal storage portion. Discloses an information device storage tray configured to include an attachment fixing portion for attaching and fixing the mobile phone and the information terminal device. According to this, a plurality of information terminal devices used for mobile radio communication or the like can be integrally mounted, and particularly, an information device storage tray useful when a mobile phone is used in contact with an electronic notebook or a small personal computer. Has been realized.
However, also in this case, as in the above-described technology, the two functions of the mobile phone function and the data communication function of connecting the electronic notebook and other mobile terminal devices using the mobile phone are selectively used. It does not correspond to freely using functional / physical members for various applications.

[0006]

On the other hand, mobile information terminals using wireless communication such as mobile phones and PHSs have become widespread today, and in addition to telephone calls, in addition to conventional data communication,
With the rapid spread of mobile phone devices equipped with a simple browser, aspects of information devices, not just communication devices, have been created. With a view to future technical development,
In the next-generation and next-generation mobile phones, the function of running a program such as JAVA (registered trademark) and the Bluetooth (Bl) capable of data communication and transfer between other devices
For example, it is anticipated that various usages that have not been used in the past, or usages that are combined with other hardware, will be performed due to such factors as Bluetooth.

[0007] Assuming such a case, in addition to the call and data communication, various functions can be freely selected and freely combined, or necessary optional members can be used according to the purpose and purpose of the user. It would be convenient if they could be combined for each. Unnecessary members do not have to be purchased. If additional functions or upgrades are required, functions (members) may be added or replaced accordingly. In order to construct a device for such a purpose, it is desired to have a portable functional design that conforms to general-purpose standards. On the other hand, in the related art, portable information terminals for wireless communication such as a cellular phone and a PHS have a limited battery in terms of power due to morphology, and it is inevitable that the battery is charged by a charger. This charger has also become more compact as technology advances, but it only has the function of charging, and despite having only one function,
In some cases, it was necessary to carry around.

In order to solve the above-mentioned various problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device having a charging function with a plurality of functions, and to make calls and data in accordance with the purpose and purpose of the user. An object of the present invention is to provide an optional device that can select various functions besides communication and freely combine them, or combine necessary optional members for each function. When configuring optional equipment, it conforms to general-purpose standards and adds functions (members).
An object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be replaced.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a power supply unit for supplying power to the optional device, a power output unit for supplying power from the optional device to the portable information communication terminal are provided. At least one or more input / output terminals, a portable information terminal storage unit, and at least one or more PCMCIA card slots, wherein the PC card slot has a card with control means, a card with storage means, an I / O card, Other PCMCIA cards can be connected and stored, and when the portable information communication terminal is stored in the optional device storage section, power can be supplied from the optional device to the portable information communication terminal through the power output section. A portable information communication terminal that can use various optional functions with various PCMCIA cards It is characterized by a Deployment apparatus.

[0010] In the second aspect of the present invention,
In order to solve the above problems, a power supply unit for supplying power to the optional device, a power output unit for supplying power to the portable information communication terminal from the optional device, at least one or more input / output terminals, and at least one or more Various memory card slots, wherein the memory card slot includes a card having control means, a card having storage means,
/ O card and other various cards can be connected and stored. When the portable information communication terminal is stored in the optional device storage section, power is supplied from the optional device to the portable information communication terminal via the power output section. Possible and
It is an optional device of a portable information communication terminal that can use various optional functions with the various memory cards.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3,
In order to solve the above problem, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, at least one of the input / output terminals is B
3. An optional device for a portable information communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the input / output terminal is a Bluetooth standard input / output terminal.

Further, in the invention according to claim 4,
In order to solve the above problem, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, at least one of the input / output terminals is a US
2. An input / output terminal conforming to the B standard.
It is an optional device of the portable information communication terminal according to any one of (1) to (3).

Further, in the invention according to claim 5,
In order to solve the above problem, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, at least one of the input / output terminals is an IE.
The portable information communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is an input / output terminal of the EE1394 standard.

Further, in the invention according to claim 6,
In order to solve the above problem, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, at least one of the input / output terminals is an input / output terminal for infrared communication.
It is an optional device of the portable information communication terminal according to any one of (1) to (3).

Further, in the invention according to claim 7,
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention according to claims 1 to 6, the optional device is further provided with a solar power supply unit.
The portable information communication terminal according to any one of the above.

Further, in the invention according to claim 8,
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the optional device is further provided with a voice input / output unit. The portable information communication terminal is an optional device.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention,
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention according to claims 1 to 8, the at least one or more PCMCIA card slots or various memory card slots are parallel to a substantially horizontal bottom surface, and the PCMCIA card or various memory cards are arranged in parallel.
The portable information communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the card slot has a structure of a card slot capable of storing and connecting a plurality of card slots.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, at least one of the PCMCIAs according to the first to eighth aspects of the present invention is provided.
The card slot or various memory card slots have a structure of a card slot capable of storing and connecting a plurality of PCMCIA cards or various memory card slots perpendicular to a substantially horizontal bottom surface.
It is an optional device for a portable information communication terminal according to any one of the above-mentioned items.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a basic function and configuration of an optional device according to the present invention.

The optional device of the present invention includes a power supply unit for supplying power to the main body of the device. The power supply unit is usually an AC power supply or the like, and supplies power to the option device main body by a power cord or the like. Even if the optional device main body is a single unit, it can supply power to a card having control means, a card having storage means, an I / O card, and other PCMCIA cards which are connected and housed in a PCMCIA card slot described later.

Further, the power supply unit may be a solar power supply unit using a solar panel, and in addition to a power supply unit such as an ordinary AC power supply, a solar power supply unit may be provided. It may be configured to include a unit. Alternatively, the power supply unit may be configured to supply power to the optional device from a dry battery, a rechargeable battery, or another power source. Furthermore, a rechargeable battery can be incorporated by attaching it to an optional device and making it detachable. When charging is completed, the AC power cord can be disconnected from the optional device, Is provided in the optional device, so that operation becomes possible.

Further, the optional device of the present invention includes a power supply output unit for supplying power from the main body to the portable information communication terminal. Power can be supplied to the portable information communication terminal. The power output unit is provided in a charger such as a normal mobile phone, and supplies power to a terminal body of the mobile phone or a battery mounted on the main body by a power supply pin or jack suitable for each model of the mobile phone or the like. Things. In this optional device, in addition to being used as a charger for a terminal such as a mobile phone, a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone is attached to the optional device so that various functions of the optional device can be used. .

When the portable information terminal is mounted on the optional device, the terminal is mounted on the portable information terminal storage portion. The portable information terminal storage portion is a concave portion provided in the optional device, and has a convex portion with respect to the concave portion. It is desirable to have a shape according to the model such that a certain portable information terminal is mounted. Further, when the portable information terminal is mounted in the form information terminal storage section, the power supply section of the portable information terminal and the power output section of the optional device are connected, and the input / output terminal (voice communication It is configured such that the input / output terminals (for voice communication, data communication, etc.) of the optional device are connected to each other.

The optional device of the present invention has at least one or more input / output terminals. First, as described above, the input / output terminal (for voice communication / data communication, etc.) of the portable information terminal is connected to the input / output terminal (for voice communication / data communication, etc.) of the optional device, and This is for performing data communication and the like between data and the like by wireless communication using an information terminal, with a control unit, a storage unit, and the like provided in the optional device or a PCMCIA card or other card mounted on the optional device.

However, in this optional device, the input / output terminals are used for purposes other than input / output with the portable information terminal.
It is provided including the purpose. For example, according to the third aspect of the present invention, at least one of the input / output terminals is a Bluetooth.
It is a standard input / output terminal. Bluetooth is defined as an interface specification for short-range wireless communication of about 10 meters, and is a wireless interface between mobile terminals, such as communication between a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and the like, a digital camera, an information home appliance, and the like. In the month, "Bluetooth1.
"0" has been published. This is a wireless transmission system that handles radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band, and transmits data at a maximum of 1 Mbit / sec over a distance of about 10 meters. For example, a device such as another portable information terminal, a digital camera, or an information home appliance is connected to the optional device without a cable, and data transmission is performed without trouble of terminal compatibility. Regardless of whether or not a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone is attached to the optional device, the optional device of the present invention includes a power supply unit,
Since the control unit, the storage unit, and the like are provided in the main body or various cards, data transmission is possible even with the optional device alone.

In the invention described in claim 4, at least one of the input / output terminals is a USB
It is a standard input / output terminal. The USB standard is originally a serial interface standard for personal computers. Up to 127 devices can be connected in a tree shape to a host such as a personal computer via a USB hub, and connectors can be connected and disconnected while the personal computer is turned on. It is known that power can be supplied from a host to a device. By connecting to the USB terminal of the optional device, it can be connected to digital cameras, digital video cameras, scanners, printers, storage devices such as MO drives and CD-ROM drives, personal computers, and other devices. Optional devices can be used. For example, an image captured by a scanner can be converted to a PCMCI
Various uses are possible, such as storing in the storage means of the A card or printing out an image downloaded from a mobile phone or the like via an optional device. Regardless of whether or not a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone is attached to the optional device, the optional device of the present invention includes a power supply unit,
Since the control unit, the storage unit, and the like are provided in the main body or various cards, data transmission is possible even with the optional device alone.

[0027] In the invention according to claim 5, at least one of the input / output terminals is an IEEE.
It is an E1394 standard input / output terminal.
IEEE 1394 is also an input / output terminal provided in a personal computer or the like in recent years, and has a transfer speed of 100 Mbp.
s or higher-speed next-generation serial interface standard. It is also suitable for data transmission such as voice and moving images, and can be used in various ways by using the optional device alone or by attaching a mobile phone or the like to the optional device, similarly to the USB standard terminal. Regardless of whether or not a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone is attached to the optional device, the optional device of the present invention includes a power supply unit, a control unit, a storage unit, and the like in the main body or various cards. Data transmission is possible.

Further, for example, in the invention described in claim 6, at least one of the input / output terminals is an input / output terminal for infrared communication. Infrared (I
rDA) communication port, so that notebook computers and portable information terminals (P
DA) or data can be transmitted and received between the optional devices. Regardless of whether or not a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone is attached to the optional device, the optional device of the present invention includes a power supply unit, a control unit, a storage unit, and the like in the main body or various cards. Data transmission is possible.

The input / output terminals provided in the optional device of the present invention are not necessarily limited to the above-mentioned input / output terminals. For example, 10BASE-T, 1
An input / output terminal such as 00BASE-TX can be provided. Alternatively, a digital audio terminal, a serial port, a parallel port, a MIDI terminal, or the like, or a DFP (Digital
l Flat Panel) or DVI (Digital)
A terminal based on a standard such as Visual Interface may be provided.

The optional device of the present invention has at least one or more PCMCIA card slots. The PCMCIA card is generally referred to simply as a PC card, and is a general term for a credit card-sized peripheral device standardized for portable information terminals tonight.
(3.3mm), TYPE II (5.0mm), TYPE III (10.5mm)
Any of the above slots may be used. flash·
Memory and modems, interface cards such as SCSI and LAN, hard disks, cards for installing Compact Flash (trademark) and Memory Stick (trademark), and other types of cards have been developed.
In the optional device, by replacing or combining these functions, it is possible to freely add or change functions according to the purpose or use of the object to be used.

In this optional device, data transmission / reception,
In order to control various PCMCIA cards, manage power, and the like, it is usual to provide a control unit in the optional device main body and an operation unit for performing various operations.
However, as for the control means, these functions are provided in the storage means of the PCMCIA card which is an external storage means, and the operating system (OS) function is provided in the PCMCIA card.
An embodiment in which the storage means of the card is provided may be employed.

As described in detail above, in the optional device of the present invention, the PC card slot has a card provided with control means, a card provided with storage means, and an I / O card.
Card and other PCMCIA cards can be connected and stored. When the main body of the portable information communication terminal is stored, power can be supplied from the main body to the portable information communication terminal,
An apparatus capable of utilizing the optional functions with the various PCMCIA cards can be realized in a size slightly larger than a charger such as a conventional mobile phone.

Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, as in the second aspect of the present invention, a power supply unit for supplying power to the optional device and a power supply for supplying power from the optional device to the portable information communication terminal. Power output unit, at least one or more input / output terminals, and at least one or more various memories
An optional device for a portable information communication terminal, wherein a card slot is provided, and a card provided with control means, a card provided with storage means, an I / O card, and other various cards can be connected and stored in the memory card slot. When the portable information communication terminal is stored in the storage unit, power can be supplied from the optional device to the portable information communication terminal via the power output unit, and various optional functions can be used with the various memory cards. An optional device of the information communication terminal is given. Here, examples of cards to be inserted into various memory card slots include SmartMedia (trademark), CompactFlash (trademark), Memory Stick (trademark), and other various cards.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, as in the eighth aspect, in the first to seventh aspects, the optional device further includes a voice input / output unit. An optional device for a portable information communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: In this case, the storage means provided on the main body of the optional device or a card such as a PCMCIA card is provided with voice recognition software, and the operation of the optional device can be performed by a voice such as a voice input from a voice input / output unit. And so on. Conversely, an instruction such as an operation method can be output from the optional device to teach an operation or prompt an operation.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, as in the ninth aspect of the present invention, at least one or more PCMCIAs according to the first to eighth aspects of the present invention are provided.
The card slot or various memory card slots have a card slot structure capable of storing and connecting a plurality of PCMCIA cards or various memory card slots in parallel with a substantially horizontal bottom surface.
8, an optional device for a portable information communication terminal. According to another embodiment of the present invention, as in the invention of the tenth aspect, in the invention of the first to eighth aspects, at least one or more of the PCs
The MCIA card slot or various memory card slots have a structure of a card slot capable of storing and connecting a plurality of PCMCIA cards or various memory card slots vertically to a substantially horizontal bottom surface.
An optional device of the portable information communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is provided. These realize the functional physical configuration of the optional device of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows that at least one or more PCMCIA card slots or various memory card slots have a card slot structure capable of storing and connecting a plurality of PCMCIA cards or various memory card slots in parallel with a substantially horizontal bottom surface. 1 shows an example of an apparatus.

[0036]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a device having a charging function is further provided with a plurality of functions, and a call / call can be made in accordance with the purpose / purpose of the user.
In addition to the data communication, it is possible to provide an optional device that can freely select various functions and freely combine them, or can combine necessary optional members for each function. In the configuration of the optional device, it is possible to provide a device that conforms to a general-purpose standard and that can add or replace functions (members).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a basic configuration of an optional device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows at least one or more PCMCIA card slots or various memory card slots, in which a plurality of PCMCIA cards or various memory card slots are arranged in parallel with a substantially horizontal bottom surface, and has an optional card slot structure. It is a figure showing an example of an apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable information terminal 2 Optional device main body 3 Operation part 4 PCMCIA card slot 5 PCMCIA card slot 6 Power supply part 7 Solar power supply part

Claims (10)

[Claims] A power supply unit for supplying power to the optional device; a power output unit for supplying power to the portable information communication terminal from the optional device; at least one or more input / output terminals; , At least one PC
An MCIA card slot, wherein the PC card slot can be connected and accommodated with a card with control means, a card with storage means, an I / O card, and other PCMCIA cards; When stored in the storage section, the portable information communication terminal can supply power to the portable information communication terminal from the optional device through the power output section, and can use various optional functions with the various PCMCIA cards. Optional equipment. 2. A power supply for supplying power to the optional device, a power output for supplying power from the optional device to the portable information communication terminal, at least one or more input / output terminals, and at least one or more various memories A card slot; a card provided with control means, a card provided with storage means, an I / O card, and other various cards can be connected and stored in the memory card slot;
When the portable information communication terminal is stored in the optional device storage unit, power can be supplied from the optional device to the portable information communication terminal via the power output unit, and various optional functions can be used with the various memory cards. Optional device of portable information communication terminal that can do. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein
At least one of the input / output terminals is a Bluetooth
3. An optional device for a portable information communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the input / output terminal is an input / output terminal conforming to the oth standard. 4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the input / output terminals is a USB standard input / output terminal. Optional device of the portable information communication terminal according to the description. 5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said input / output terminals is IEEE139
2. An input / output terminal of four standards.
4. The optional device for a portable information communication terminal according to any one of items 1 to 3. 6. The invention according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said input / output terminals is an input / output terminal for infrared communication. Optional device of the portable information communication terminal according to the description. 7. The portable information according to claim 1, wherein the optional device further includes a solar power supply unit. Optional device for communication terminal. 8. The portable information according to claim 1, wherein the optional device further comprises a voice input / output unit. Optional device for communication terminal. 9. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the at least one or more PCMCIA card slots or various memory card slots are parallel to a substantially horizontal bottom surface, and the PCMCIA card or various memory card slots are parallel to the bottom surface. 9. The optional device for a portable information communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the optional device has a structure of a card slot capable of storing and connecting a plurality of cards. 10. The invention according to claim 1, wherein
The at least one or more PCMCIA card slots or various memory card slots have a card slot structure in which a plurality of PCMCIA cards or various memory card slots can be stored and connected perpendicularly to a substantially horizontal bottom surface. The optional device for a portable information communication terminal according to claim 1.