Mobile electronic apparatus, and battery pack for the apparatus

• US 20050020304A1
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Shinzaki, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,200,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A mobile electronic apparatus in which various functions can be easily added without impairing the mobility and without making any change in the hardware. The mobile electronic apparatus is carried by its authorized user to perform various types of electrical information processing, and has an attachment part detachably attached to a main body of the apparatus for performing a predetermined function, which attachment part has an input/output section for inputting/outputting information. The apparatus also has an interface section for transferring input/output signals relating to the information between the attachment part and the main body. The invention is applicable in mobile electronic apparatus having an attachment part detachably attached thereto, internet appliances such as cell phones, mobile electronic information terminals, and PDAs.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising:

a main body;

an attachment part detachably attached to the main body for performing a predetermined function when attached to said main body, said attachment part having an input/output section integrally formed with said attachment part for inputting/outputting information (data); and

an interface section for transferring input/output signals relating to the last-named information (data) between said main body and the attachment part.

2. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interface section is an optical communications section which receives/transmits optical signals as the input/output signals.

3. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interface section is a radio communications section which receives/transmits radio signals as the input/output signals.

4. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interface section is a connector or an electrical contact, adapted to be connected between said attachment part and said main body, for receiving/transmitting the input/output signals.

5. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interface section is a cable, adapted to be connected between said attachment part and a connector terminal of said main body, for receiving/transmitting the input/output signals.

6. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input/output section has a keyboard.

7. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said input/output section has a keyboard.

8. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said input/output section has a keyboard.

9. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said input/output section has a keyboard.

10. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said input/output section has a keyboard.

11. A mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising:

a main body;

a battery pack detachably attached to said main body and having an input section integrally formed with said battery pack for inputting information (data); and

a power supply terminal, adapted to be connected between said battery pack and said main body to supply electric power from said battery pack to said main body, for sending to said main body input signals relating to said information (data), which is input by said input section.

12. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said battery pack includes a signal synthesizing circuit for carrying the input signals, which are input by said input section, onto a power supply voltage to be supplied from said battery pack to said main body; and

said main body includes a signal separating circuit for separating and picking up said input signals carried on the power supply voltage.

13. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said main body further includes a converting section for converting said input signals, which are separated and picked up by said signal separating circuit, into key-input-pattern signals.

14. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said input section has a keyboard.

15. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said input section has a keyboard.

16. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said input section has a keyboard.

33. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said battery pack includes a battery which is detachable and replaceable.

34. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said battery pack includes a battery which is detachable and replaceable.

35. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said battery pack includes a battery which is detachable and replaceable.

36. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said battery pack includes a battery which is detachable and replaceable.

37. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said battery pack includes a battery which is detachable and replaceable.

38. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said battery pack includes a battery which is detachable and replaceable.

17. A mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising:

a main body;

an attachment part detachably attached to said main body for performing a predetermined function when attached to said main body;

an input section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;

an extracting section, which is formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person; and

an interface section, disposed between said main body and said attachment part, for sending said biometric feature information from said extracting section to said main body.

18. A mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising:

a main body;

an attachment part detachably attached to said main body for performing a predetermined function when attached to said main body;

an input section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;

an extracting section, formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person;

a comparing/verifying section, formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said extracting section, for verifying the object person by comparing said biometric feature information extracted by said extracting section with reference biometric feature information about the authorized user which information is previously obtained; and

an interface section, disposed between said main body and said attachment part, for sending the result of verification by said comparing/verifying section to said main body.

21. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a storage section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for storing said reference biometric feature information which is previously obtained.

24. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:

a medium interface section adapted to be operatively connected with a portable memory medium which stores said reference biometric feature information previously obtained; and

a feature information read-out section, operatively connected with said medium interface section, for reading out said reference biometric feature information from said portable memory medium via said medium interface section;

said medium interface section and said feature information read-out section being formed integrally with said attachment part.

27. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said portable memory medium is an IC card.

30. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a communications section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for receiving said reference biometric feature information from an external apparatus.

19. A mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising:

a main body;

an attachment part detachably attached to said main body for performing a predetermined function when attached to said main body;

an input section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;

an extracting section, formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person;

a comparing/verifying section, formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said extracting section, for verifying the object person by comparing said biometric feature information extracted by said extracting section with reference biometric feature information about the authorized user which information is previously obtained;

a storing section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for storing personal data of the authorized person;

a personal data read-out section, formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said storing section and said comparing/verifying section, for reading out said personal data from said storing section when said biometric feature information of the object person is identical with said reference biometric feature information of the authorized user as the result of verification by said comparing/verifying section; and

an interface section, disposed between said main body and said attachment part, for sending to said main body said personal data, which is read out from said storing section by said personal data read-out section.

22. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a storage section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for storing said reference biometric feature information which is previously obtained.

25. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a medium interface section adapted to be operatively connected with a portable memory medium which stores said reference biometric feature information previously obtained; and

a feature information read-out section, operatively connected with said medium interface section, for reading out said reference biometric feature information from said portable memory medium via said medium interface section;

said medium interface section and a feature information read-out section being formed integrally with said attachment part.

28. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said portable memory medium is an IC card.

31. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a communications section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for receiving said reference biometric feature information from an external apparatus.

20. A mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising:

a main body;

a battery pack detachably attached to said main body for performing a predetermined function when attached to said main body;

an input section, formed integrally with said battery pack, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;

an extracting section, formed integrally with said battery pack and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person;

a comparing/verifying section, formed integrally with said battery pack and operatively connected with said extracting section, for verifying the object person by comparing said biometric feature information extracted by said extracting section with (previously registered) reference biometric feature information about the authorized user;

a storing section, formed integrally with said battery pack, for storing personal data of the authorized person;

a personal data read-out section, formed integrally with said battery pack and operatively connected with said storing section and said comparing/verifying section, for reading out said personal data from said storing section when said biometric feature information of the object person is identical with said reference biometric feature information of the authorized user as the result of verification by said comparing/verifying section;

a signal synthesizing circuit, formed integrally with said battery pack and operatively connected therewith, for carrying said personal data, which is read out by said personal data read-out section, onto a supply power voltage from said battery pack to said main body as a voltage signal;

a signal separating circuit, mounted on said main body, for separating said voltage signal carried on said supply power voltage to pick up said personal data; and

a converting section, mounted on said main body, for converting said personal data, which is separated and picked up by said signal separating section, into a key-input-pattern signal.

23. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a storage section, formed integrally with said battery pack, for storing previously obtained said reference biometric feature information which is previously obtained.

26. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

a medium interface section adapted to be operatively connected with a portable memory medium-which stores said reference biometric feature information previously obtained; and

a feature information read-out section, operatively connected with said medium interface section, for reading out said reference biometric feature information from said portable memory medium via said medium interface section;

said medium interface section and a feature information read-out section being formed integrally with said battery pack.

29. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said portable memory medium is an IC card.

32. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a communications section, formed integrally with said battery pack, for receiving said reference biometric feature information from an external apparatus.

39. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said battery pack includes a battery which is detachable and replaceable.

40. A battery pack which is adapted to be detachably attached to a main body of a mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising:

a casing adapted to be attached to the main body of the mobile electronic apparatus;

a battery received in said casing;

an input/output section, formed integrally with said casing, for inputting/outputting information (data); and

an interface section, formed integrally with said casing, for transferring input/output signals relating to the last-named information (data) between said input/output section and said main body when said casing is attached to the main body.

41. A battery pack according to claim 40, wherein said interface section includes a signal synthesizing circuit, formed integrally with said casing and operatively connected with said battery, for carrying the input signals, which are input by said input/output section, onto a power supply voltage to be supplied from said battery pack to said main body.

46. A batter pack according to claim 40, wherein said battery is detachable and replaceable.

47. A batter pack according to claim 41, wherein said battery is detachable and replaceable.

42. A battery pack which is adapted to be detachably attached to a main body of a mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising:

a casing adapted to be detachably attached to the main body of the mobile electronic apparatus;

a battery received in said casing;

an input section, formed integrally with said casing, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;

an extracting section, formed integrally with said casing and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person; and

an interface section, formed integrally with said casing, for sending said biometric feature information to said main body when said casing is attached to the main body.

48. A batter pack according to claim 42, wherein said battery is detachable and replaceable.

43. A battery pack which is adapted to be detachably attached to a main body of a mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising:

a casing adapted to be detachably attached to the main body of the mobile electronic apparatus;

a battery received in said casing;

an input section, formed integrally with said casing, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;

an extracting section, formed integrally with said casing and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person;

a comparing/verifying section, formed integrally with said casing and operatively connected with said extracting section, for verifying the object person by comparing said biometric feature information extracted by said extracting section with reference biometric feature information about the authorized user which information is previously obtained; and

an interface section, formed integrally with said casing, for sending the result of the verification by said comparing/verifying section to said main body when said casing is attached to the main body.

49. A batter pack according to claim 43, wherein said battery is detachable and replaceable.

44. A battery pack which is adapted to be detachably attached to a main body of a mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising:

a casing adapted to be detachably attached to the main body of the mobile electronic apparatus;

a battery received in said casing;

an input section, formed integrally with said casing, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;

an extracting section, formed integrally with said casing and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person;

a comparing/verifying section, formed integrally with said casing and operatively connected with said extracting section, for verifying the object person by comparing said biometric feature information extracted by said extracting section with reference biometric feature information about the authorized user which information is previously obtained;

a storing section, formed integrally with said casing, for storing personal data of the authorized person;

a personal data read-out section, formed integrally with said casing and operatively connected with said storing section and said comparing/verifying section, for reading out said personal data from said storing section when said biometric feature information of the object person is identical with said reference biometric feature information of the authorized user as the result of verification by said comparing/verifying section; and

an interface section, formed integrally with said casing, for sending said personal data, which is read out from said storing section by said personal data read-out section, to said main body when said casing is attached to the main body.

50. A batter pack according to claim 44, wherein said battery is detachable and replaceable.

45. A battery pack which is adapted to be detachably attached to a main body of a mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising:

a casing adapted to be detachably attached to the main body of the mobile electronic apparatus;

a battery received in said casing;

an input section, formed integrally with said casing, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;

an extracting section, formed integrally with said casing and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person;

a comparing/verifying section, formed integrally with said casing and operatively connected with said extracting section, for verifying the object person by comparing said biometric feature information extracted by said extracting section with reference biometric feature information about the authorized user which information is previously obtained;

a storing section, formed integrally with said casing, for storing personal data of the authorized person;

a personal data read-out section, formed integrally with said casing and operatively connected with said storing section and said comparing/verifying section, for reading out said personal data from said storing section when said biometric feature information of the object person is identical with said reference biometric feature information of the authorized user as the result of verification by said comparing/verifying section; and

a signal synthesizing circuit, formed integrally with said casing and operatively connected with said battery and said personal data read-out section, for carrying said personal data, which is read out by said personal data read-out section, onto a supply power voltage to be supplied from said battery pack to said main body as a voltage signal.

51. A batter pack according to claim 45, wherein said battery is detachable and replaceable.