Removable electronic module

• US 20080212291A1
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Uusimaki, Matti, Laitinen, Timo T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,226,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/741
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/635 by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3818 Arrangements for facilitating insertion or removal of identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09181 Notches in edge pads
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10189 Non-printed connector
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/325 by abutting or pinching, i.e. without alloying process; mechanical auxiliary parts therefor adaptations of leads inserted in holes for press-fit connections H05K3/308
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/403 Edge contacts; Windows or holes in the substrate having plural connections on the walls thereof H05K3/4092 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic module adapted to be removably, operably connected to an electronic device. The electronic module includes a housing; at least one electronic component in the housing; and a plurality of electrical contact areas. The housing has a general electronic card shape with relatively large top and bottom sides and relatively thin side edges between the top and bottom sides. The plurality of electrical contact areas are located on a first one of the side edges. The electrical contact areas are connected to the at least one electronic component such that, when the electronic module is operably connected to the electronic device, the electrical contact areas on the first side edge are adapted to electrically couple the at least one electronic component to the electronic device along the first side edge.

Claims

1. An electronic module adapted to be removably, operably connected to an electronic device, the electronic module comprising:

a housing;

at least one electronic component in the housing; and

a plurality of electrical contact areas on a first side edge of the housing, wherein at least one of the electrical contact areas are connected to the at least one electronic component such that, when the electronic module is connected to the electronic device, the electrical contact areas on the first side edge are adapted to electrically couple the at least one electronic component to the electronic device along the first side edge.

2. An electronic module as in claim 1 wherein the electrical contact areas comprise substantially stationary metallized contact pads on the housing.

3. An electronic module as in claim 1 wherein the electrical contact areas comprise substantially stationary metal contact pads connected to the housing.

4. An electronic module as in claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic component comprises a printed circuit board, and wherein the electrical contact areas are along a side edge of the printed circuit board which is at the first side edge of the housing.

5. An electronic module as in claim 1 further comprising a removal detection system for detecting when a user is initiating removal of the electronic module from the electronic device, wherein the removal detection system comprises a user input on a surface of the housing.

6. An electronic module as in claim 5 wherein the surface comprises an opposite second side edge of the housing.

7. An electronic module as in claim 5 wherein the surface comprises a major surface of the housing.

8. An electronic module as in claim 5 wherein the user input comprises a touch sensor adapted to sense when a user touches the touch sensor with a finger.

9. An electronic module as in claim 8 wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

10. An electronic module as in claim 8 wherein the touch sensor comprises a resistive sensor.

11. An electronic module as in claim 5 wherein the user input comprises a manually actuated switch.

12. An electronic module as in claim 5 wherein the at least one electronic component comprises an electronic controller, and wherein the removal detection system comprises the controller.

13. An electronic module as in claim 12 wherein the removal detection system comprises conductors connecting the user input to the controller and connecting the controller to one of the electrical contact areas.

14. An electronic module as in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a general electronic card shape with relatively large top and bottom sides and relatively thin side edges between the top and bottom sides, wherein the plurality of electrical contact areas are on the first one of the relatively thin side edges.

15. An electronic assembly comprising:

an electrical connector comprising;

a housing;

a resilient member mounted in the housing, wherein the resilient member comprises electrically non-conductive flexible material; and

a plurality of substantially rigid electrical contacts mounted to the resilient member, wherein the electrical contacts each comprise a first side having a first contact area and a second side, which is offset about 90 degrees from the first side, and which is adapted to contact a second contact area on an electronic component; and

an electronic module as in claim 1 mounted to the electrical connector, wherein the electrical contact areas are in contact with the first contact areas of the electrical connector.

16. A hand-held portable electronic device comprising:

a controller;

a transceiver operably coupled to the controller;

an electronic assembly as in claim 15, wherein the electrical connector is operably coupled to the controller.

17. An electronic module adapted to be removably, operably connected to an electronic device, the electronic module comprising:

a housing having a general electronic card shape with relatively large top and bottom sides and relatively thin side edges between the top and bottom sides;

at least one electronic component in the housing;

an electrical contact area proximate a first end of the housing for electrically coupling the at least one electronic component to the electronic device; and

a removal detection system for detecting when a user is initiating removal of the electronic module from the electronic device, wherein the removal detection system comprises a user input on one of the side edges of the housing at an opposite second end of the housing.

18. An electronic module as in claim 17 wherein the electrical contact area comprises stationary metallized contact pads on the housing.

19. An electronic module as in claim 17 wherein the electrical contact area comprises stationary metal contact pads connected to the housing.

20. An electronic module as in claim 17 wherein the at least one electronic component comprises a printed circuit board, and wherein the electrical contact area comprises contact pads on a side edge of the printed circuit board which is at the first end of the housing.

21. An electronic module as in claim 17 wherein the user input comprises a touch sensor adapted to sense when a user touches the touch sensor with a finger.

22. An electronic module as in claim 21 wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

23. An electronic module as in claim 21 wherein the touch sensor comprises a resistive sensor.

24. An electronic module as in claim 17 wherein the user input comprises a manually actuated switch.

25. An electronic module as in claim 17 wherein the at least one electronic component comprises an electronic controller, and wherein the removal detection system comprises the controller.

26. An electronic module as in claim 25 wherein the removal detection system comprises conductors connecting the user input to the controller and connecting the controller to one of the electrical contact areas.

27. An electronic module as in claim 17 wherein the user input is directly electrically connected to a contact pad of the electrical contact area by a conductor.

28. An electronic module adapted to be removably, operably connected to an electronic device, the electronic module comprising:

a housing;

at least one electronic component in the housing;

an electrical contact area proximate a first end of the housing for electrically coupling the at least one electronic component to the electronic device; and

a user input at an opposite second end of the housing, wherein the user input comprises an electronic touch sensor adapted to send an electrical signal when a user touches the touch sensor with a finger.

29. An electronic module as in claim 28 wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

30. An electronic module as in claim 28 wherein the touch sensor comprises a resistive sensor.

31. An electronic module as in claim 28 further comprising a removal detection system comprising the user input.

32. An electronic module as in claim 31 wherein the at least one electronic component comprises an electronic controller, and wherein the removal detection system comprises the controller.

33. An electronic module as in claim 28 wherein the user input is directly electrically connected to a contact pad of the electrical contact area by a conductor.

34. An electronic module as in claim 28 further comprising a fingerprint identification system comprising the user input.

36. A method as in claim 34 wherein providing a sensing system comprises providing the user input as a touch sensor adapted to sense a touch of a user'"'"'s finger.

35. A method of detecting initiation of removal of a removable electronic module by a user from an electronic device comprising:

providing the removable electronic module with a sensing system to sense when a user is initiating removal of the electronic module from the electronic device, wherein the sensing system comprises a user input;

sending a signal from the user input when the user has activated the user input; and

determining when a user has activated the user input of the electronic module at least partially based upon receipt of the signal by an electronic component of the electronic module.

37. A method as in claim 35 wherein determining when the user has activated the user input comprises an electronic controller of the removable electronic module receiving the signal.

38. A method as in claim 35 wherein determining when the user has activated the user input comprises delivering the signal to an electrical contact area of the electronic module to be transmitted to the electronic device.

39. A method of detecting initiation of removal of a removable electronic module from an electronic device comprising:

providing the electronic module with a touch sensor which is adapted to sense when a user touches the touch sensor and generate an electrical signal; and

sending the signal to a shut down system for at least partially terminating use of the electronic module by the electronic device before removal of the electronic module from the electronic device.

40. A method as in claim 39 wherein the shut down system is located, at least partially, in the removable electronic module.

41. A method as in claim 39 wherein the shut down system is located, at least partially, in the electronic device.

42. An electrical connector comprising:

a housing;

a resilient member mounted in the housing, wherein the resilient member comprises electrically non-conductive flexible material; and

a plurality of substantially rigid electrical contacts mounted to the resilient member, wherein the electrical contacts each comprise a first side having a first contact area which is adapted to contact a removable electronic module and a second side, which is offset about 90 degrees from the first side, and which is adapted to contact a second contact area on an electronic component.

43. An electrical connector as in claim 42 wherein the electrical contacts have a general triangular side profile.

44. An electrical connector as in claim 42 wherein a third side of the electrical contacts are located against the resilient member.

45. An electrical connector as in claim 42 wherein a third side of the electrical contacts are in movable contact with a portion of the housing.

46. An electrical connector as in claim 45 wherein the electrical contacts are adapted to pivot relative to the housing.

47. An electrical connector as in claim 42 wherein, when removable electronic module is inserted into the electrical connector, the contacts are adapted to be moved by the removable electronic module in a first direction and the resilient member is adapted to move the contacts in a different second direction.

48. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations to detect initiation of removal of a removable electronic card from a card reader, the operations comprising:

determining when a user has touched a touch sensor of a user input at an end of the removable electronic card, wherein the touch sensor is adapted to generate a signal when the user touches the touch sensor; and

based upon receipt of the signal from the touch sensor, terminating use of the electronic module by the card reader.