Portable electronic apparatus with infrared communication function

• US 5,903,374 A
• Filed: 03/07/1996
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Fumiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCAL, LESLIE C
• Application Number:
  US08/610,589
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 359/159, 359/163, 359/142, 359/193, 359/144, 359/113-114, 359/152-153, 359/172
• US Class Current: 398/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission

Abstract

This invention relates to a portable electronic apparatus capable of performing infrared communication through an infrared emitting/receiving unit including an infrared emitting/receiving element. In this apparatus, the infrared emitting/receiving unit is movably mounted on a main body of the portable electronic apparatus so as to externally change a direction of the infrared emitting/receiving unit. According to the portable electronic apparatus of this invention, the direction of the infrared emitting/receiving unit can be changed over two outer surfaces of the portable electronic apparatus main body, or can slide on at least one outer surface of the portable electronic apparatus main body.

Claims

1. A portable electronic apparatus capable of performing infrared communication, comprising:

a main body;

an infrared emitting/receiving unit, said infrared emitting/receiving unit having a housing, and a shaft-like projecting portion projecting outward from said housing, said shaft-like projecting portion housing electrodes for said infrared emitting/receiving unit;

said main body having a recess in at least one outer face thereof to retain said infrared emitting/receiving unit; and

a shaft-like engaging portion in the recess so as to engage said shaft-like projecting portion and thereby provide said infrared emitting/receiving unit being movably mounted on said main body.

2. A portable electronic apparatus capable of performing infrared communication, comprising:

a main body;

an infrared emitting/receiving unit movably mounted on said main body so as to externally change a position of said infrared emitting/receiving unit;

said infrared emitting/receiving unit having a housing, an infrared emitting/receiving element, a projecting portion projecting outward from said housing of said infrared emitting/receiving unit, and a first electrode at a distal end of said projecting portion and electrically connected to said infrared emitting/receiving element; and

a second electrode at an end face of said projecting portion and contacting said first electrode.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the direction of said infrared emitting/receiving unit can be changed over two outer surfaces of said portable electronic apparatus main body.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said infrared emitting/receiving unit can slide on at least one surface of said portable electronic apparatus main body.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first electrode is a conductive elastic member.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first electrode is a leaf spring.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second electrode is a contact plate.

8. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said main body having a retaining portion in at least one outer surface thereof to house said infrared emitting/receiving unit, and a projection engaging portion is in the retaining portion to engage said projecting portion of said infrared emitting/receiving unit.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said projecting portion includes a through hole, and said second electrode is connected to a circuit device in said portable electronic apparatus main body through the through hole.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said retaining portion is a recessed portion.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said retaining portion is a notch.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said retaining portion is a groove.

13. A portable electronic apparatus capable of performing infrared communication, comprising;

a main body;

an infrared emitting/receiving unit, said infrared emitting/receiving unit having a housing, and a shaft-like projecting portion projecting outward from said housing;

said main body having a recess in at least one outer face thereof to retain said infrared emitting/receiving unit; and

a shaft-like engaging portion longitudinally disposed in the recess and engaging said shaft-like projecting portion to provide said infrared emitting/receiving unit with slidable movement in said main body.