Memory card

• US 5,461,222 A
• Filed: 05/27/1992
• Issued: 10/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Haneda, Isamu
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US07/888,848
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/492, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems

Abstract

A memory card on which a key symbol is printed is provided, which comprises a first memory for storing an image pattern corresponding to the key symbol and output for selectively outputting the image pattern from the first memory in accordance with an input system of a memory card terminal in which the memory card is set.

Claims

1. A memory card on which a key symbol is printed, comprising:

first memory means for storing an image pattern corresponding to key symbols and a program for discriminating a type of a pocketbook-sized information terminal in which the memory card is set; and

output means for selectively outputting the image pattern from the first memory means in accordance with an input system of said terminal.

2. A memory card according to claim 1, further comprising second memory means for storing at least one application program.

3. A memory card according to claim 2, wherein the key symbol is a key matrix corresponding to the application programs.

4. A memory card according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of application programs are stored in the second memory means and each application program respectively corresponds to each key of the key matrix.

5. A memory card according to claim 3, wherein the image pattern stored in the first memory means is the key matrix.

6. A memory card according to claim 2, further comprising a battery for applying a power source voltage to the first and second memory means.

7. A memory card according to claim 1, wherein the first memory means has a ROM.

8. A memory card according to claim 1, wherein the first memory means has a RAM.

9. A memory card according to claim 2, wherein the second memory means has a ROM.

10. A memory card according to claim 2, wherein the second memory means has a RAM.

11. A display-discriminating memory card for insertion into a pocketbook-sized information terminal, the memory card having key symbols externally visible thereon, the memory card comprising a memory having stored therein instructions for generating signals for determining information display capabilities of the terminal and for generating signals for displaying the key symbols on an appropriate one(s) of a potential plurality of display devices of the terminal in accordance with the determined information display capabilities of the terminal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory card is insertable under a transparent element of the terminal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the key symbol is a key matrix.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory card has a first memory wherein instructions for generating signals for displaying user-interactive key symbols are stored and a second memory wherein are stored an applications program executable by the CPU of the terminal.