Portable communication terminal apparatus

• US 5,857,157 A
• Filed: 06/03/1996
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shindo, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thuan T.
• Application Number:
  US08/660,153
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/368, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557, 455/558, 455/566, 455/564, 455/575, 379/428, 379/433, 379/447, 379/368, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 455/551
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/014 located in recess
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/028 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A portable communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention includes a first means having a microphone and a speaker, and a second means having operation keys and/or display means. At least one of the first and second means has a magnet for attaching the second means to the first means. The second means can be attached to the first means. Each of the first means and the second means has a light emitter and a light detector, whereby data is transmitted therebetween. The operation keys are provided on one surface of the second means. When the second means is attached to the first means with the one surface thereof being faced forward, data is transmitted between the light emitter of the first means corresponding to the light detector of the second means and the light emitter of the second means corresponding to the light detector of the first means. The second means has a memory means for storing identification information of a user.

Claims

1. A portable communication terminal apparatus comprising:

first means including a microphone and a speaker for performing a communication operation;

second means including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface including operation keys and display means for use in controlling said first means, and the second surface including text display means for displaying text messages received by the first means; and

means for removably attaching said second means to said first means, wherein when the second means is attached to the first means one of the first surface and the second surface are faced outward from the first means, and wherein when the first means is attached to the second means data is communicated therebetween.

2. The portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said first means and said second means has a respective light transmitting means and a respective light receiving means, whereby the data is transmitted therebetween.

3. The portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second means are electrically connected by wire, and wherein the data is transmitted thereby.

4. The portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second surface includes a space used for attaching an operation card for adding functions to said second means.

5. The portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first means has at least one operation key used for operations other than communication.

6. The portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for removably attaching comprises a magnet for attaching said second means to said first means.

7. The portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said first and second means includes respective power supply means.

8. The portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when said second means is attached to said first means with said first surface thereof being faced outward from said first means, the data is transmitted from said light transmitting means of said first means corresponding to said light receiving means of said second means and from said light transmitting means of said second means corresponding to said light receiving means of said first means.

9. The portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes a memory for storing identification information of a user.

10. The portable communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second surface of said second means comprises at least one operation key for scrolling the received text message across the text display means.

11. The portable communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein said text display means comprises an LCD screen.

12. The portable communication terminal apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first surface includes at least one operation key for initiating a communication operation.