Mobile data communication device

• US 5,710,988 A
• Filed: 06/18/1996
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Suzuki, Makoto, Yamamoto, Takemi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US08/665,797
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 455/89, 455/90, 455/95, 455/127, 455/128, 455/347, 455/349, 455/351, 455/66, 455/344, 455/151.2, 455/556, 455/557, 455/573, 455/572, 455/575, 359/145, 359/146, 359/172, 359/152
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers

Abstract

When a mobile data communication device is rocked due to an input/output operation, a rotary shaft of a generator coupled with a weight is rotated, and power is generated. The generated power is stored in a capacitor. The power stored in the capacitor is controlled to constant voltage by a voltage stabilizing circuit and is supplied to a control circuit. In the control circuit, based on information inputted in a pointing device by supplied power, data are transmitted and received with an external data processing device through an infrared data transmitting/receiving device. Alternatively, power may be supplied from the outside of the mobile data communication device by electromagnetic induction. According to the above-mentioned configuration, not using a battery or a wire system, the mobile data communication device is capable of easily supplying power.

Claims

1. A mobile data communication device comprising:

an elongated body frame having a longitudinal axis and opposed ends and forming a holding part configured to be held by an operator;

a data communication device for at least one of transmitting and receiving data installed on at least one end of the body frame;

a control circuit installed within said body frame coupled to the data communication device; and

a power generating device installed within the body frame for generating and supplying power to the control circuit,

wherein said power generating device is permanently secured within the body frame and does not include electric contacts to an external power source and comprises a generator that generates power due to movement of the device during operation.

2. The mobile data communication device of claim 1, wherein the power generating device comprises a generator including a rotary shaft nearly coincident with the longitudinal axis and a weight secured thereto, wherein power is generated from rotation of the rotary shaft due to movement of the device during operation.

3. The mobile data communication device of claim 2, wherein the power generating device includes a storage device for storing generated power.

4. The mobile data communication device of claim 3, further comprising an indicator that indicates residual charge quantity of the storage device.

5. The mobile data communication device of claim 4, wherein the indicator is a light emission diode.

6. The mobile data communication device of claim 2, wherein the power generating device includes a rectifier circuit.

7. The mobile data communication device of claim 2, wherein the power generating device includes a voltage stabilizing circuit.

8. The mobile data communication device of claim 2, wherein the data communication device is a pointing device.

9. A hand held data communication device for at least one of inputting and outputting data, comprising:

a body configured to be held in a hand of an operator having at least one data communication means for transferring data;

an internal self contained power generating source housed in the body for generating power, including generating means for generating power when the device is operated due to gravity, and storage means for storing generated power; and

electrical connecting means for connecting the data communication means and the power generating source.

10. The hand held data communication device of claim 9, wherein the data communication means comprises a pointer coupled to an end of the hand held data communication device.

11. The hand held data communication device of claim 10, wherein the data communication means further comprises an infrared data transmission/reception device that communicates with an external device.

12. The hand held data communication device of claim 9, wherein the generating means comprises a rotary shaft with a weight secured thereto that rotates when the device is operated due to gravity, and wherein the storage means comprises a capacitor that stores power generated by the generating means.

13. The hand held data communication device of claim 9, wherein the power generating source further comprising a voltage stabilizing circuit.

14. The hand held data communication device of claim 9, further comprising indicator means for indicating a power storage state of the storage means.

15. A hand held data communications device for at least one of inputting and outputting data, comprising:

a body configured to be held in a hand of an operator having at least one data communication means for transferring data;

an internal self contained power generating source housed in the body for generating power, including generating means for generating power comprising a first induction coil alignable with a second coil connected to a power source and disposed in an adjacent device such that power is generated in the hand held communication device from electromagnetic induction, and storage means for storing generated power; and

electrical connecting means for connecting the data communication means and the power generating source.

16. The hand held data communication device of claim 15, further comprising indicator means for indicating a power storage state of the storage means.

17. A mobile data communication device comprising:

an elongated body frame having a longitudinal axis and opposed ends and forming a holding part configured to be held by an operator;

a data communication device for at least one of transmitting and receiving data installed on at least one end of the body frame;

a control circuit installed within said body frame coupled to the data communication device; and

a power generating device comprising a cordless transmitting system installed within the body frame for generating and supplying power to the control circuit,

wherein said power generating device is permanently secured within the body frame and does not include electric contacts to an external power source and includes an induction coil installed within the body frame that is adapted to generate power through magnetic induction with another induction coil installed exterior and adjacent thereto.

18. The mobile data communication device of claim 17, further comprising, in combination:

a base part separate from the body frame and having an enclosing part for holding the body frame thereon;

another induction coil installed on the base part for supplying power to the induction coil in the body frame by electromagnetic induction that creates a magnetic field in a direction; and

a power source supplying power to the induction coil installed on the base part.

19. The mobile data communication device of claim 18, wherein the enclosing part holds the body frame such that the induction coil in the body frame and the induction coil in the base part are nearly coincident in the direction of the magnetic field of the electromagnetic induction.

20. The mobile data communication device of claim 18, wherein the body frame includes a pointer on one end and the base part includes a display panel.

21. The mobile data communication device of claim 17, wherein the power generating device includes a storage device for storing induction electromotive force generated in the induction coil.

22. The mobile data communication device of claim 17, wherein the power generating device includes a rectifier circuit.

23. The mobile data communication device of claim 17, further comprising an indicator for informing residual charge quantity of the storage device.

24. The mobile data communication device of claim 23, wherein the indicator is a light emission diode.

25. The mobile data communication device of claim 17, wherein the power generating device includes a voltage stabilizing circuit.

26. The mobile data communication device of claim 17, wherein the body frame is provided with an infrared data transmitting/receiving device for transmitting and receiving data with an external device.

27. The mobile data communication device of claim 17, wherein the input device is a pointing device.