Portable electronic apparatus

• US 5,057,676 A
• Filed: 07/30/1990
• Issued: 10/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Komaki, Shigeki
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US07/559,288
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/432, 361/398, 364/708
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/00 Cash registers alarm indicators G07G3/00

Abstract

A portable electronic apparatus includes an electronic main unit having a front surface, a rear surface, side surfaces, and a first electrical connector. The electronic main unit is served to perform arithmetic operation. The apparatus further includes a cover member provided on one of the side surfaces of the electronic main unit, for openably covering the front surface of the electronic main unit. The apparatus also includes an electronic sub-unit capable of being coupled with the electronic main unit. This electronic sub-unit has a support portion to be located behind the electronic main unit to support the rear surface, a handle portion projected from side of the electronic sub-unit for supporting the cover member when the cover member is opened, a second electrical connector capable of being connected to the first electrical connector, and an auxiliary electrical device capable of being cooperated with the electronic main unit.

Claims

1. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

an electronic main unit having a front surface, a rear surface, side surfaces, and a first electrical connector, said electronic main unit being served to perform arithmetic operation;

a cover member provided on one of said side surfaces of said electronic main unit, for openably covering said front surface of said electronic main unit; and

an electronic sub-unit capable of being coupled with said electronic main unit, said electronic sub-unit having a support portion to be located behind said electronic main unit to support said rear surface, a handle portion projected from a side of said electronic sub-unit for supporting said cover member when the cover member is opened, a second electrical connector capable of being connected to said first electrical connector, and an auxiliary electrical device capable of being cooperated with said electronic main unit.

2. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic main unit and said cover member include hinge means for coupling them with each other so that said cover member can be opened on hinges.

3. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hinge means includes first brackets projected from said side surface of said electronic main unit, second brackets projected from a side of said cover member, and hinge pins inserted through both of said first and second brackets.

4. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic main unit includes arranged keys and a display means disposed on said front surface.

5. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said electronic main unit includes an internal battery.

6. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic main unit includes means for inserting a memory card to receive data of various kinds of functions from the inserted memory card.

7. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover member includes an inner surface opposed to said front surface of said electronic main unit during covering, and arranged keys disposed on said inner surface.

8. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said apparatus further comprises a flexible printed wiring film for electrically connecting said arranged keys of said cover member with said electronic main unit.

9. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic main unit includes a processing circuit for performing arithmetic operation.

10. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said processing circuit includes a microcomputer.

11. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic main unit includes a third electrical connector for sending the arithmetic operation result therethrough to a main computer.

12. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic sub-unit includes a printer.

13. A portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a terminal device used for point of sales.