Data storage and communication system

• US 6,276,608 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1998
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Cockayne, William Roy, Pessin, Zachary J., Schmidt, Nathan Gaston, Cha, Jennifer Sun-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taylor, Larry D.
• Application Number:
  US09/222,741
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/439, 235/486, 235/487, 235/485, 235/441, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/047 the record carrier being shaped as a coin or a gambling token
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

A portable data storage and communication system includes a disk-shaped device having at least one universal contact symmetrically arranged about a center of the disk-shaped device. The disk-shaped device has at least one electrical component arranged therein which is coupled with the universal contact. An interface device receives the disk-shaped device and has at least one defined interface contact. The interface contact operatively couples with the universal contact regardless of the orientation of the disk-shaped device in the interface device.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a disk-shaped device having a first and a second planar surface and having at least one universal contact symmetrically arranged about a center of each of said first and second planar surfaces of the disk-shaped device;

at least one electrical component arranged in the disk-shaped device coupled in the same manner with each said at least one universal contact; and

an interface device which receives the disk-shaped device and has at least one defined interface contact, said interface contact operatively coupling with the at least one universal contact regardless of the orientation of the disk-shaped device in the interface device, said interface device including a microprocessor in signal communication with the electrical component when the disk-shaped device is in the interface device, a memory coupled to the microprocessor, a display coupled to the microprocessor and a tuner and antenna system coupled to the microprocessor;

wherein the electrical component of the disc-shaped device is a data storage device containing tuning data, said microprocessor operating the tuner and antenna system in accordance with the tuning data to obtain radio frequency information.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the interface device is a reading device, and wherein the electrical component in the disk-shaped device is a memory, which memory is in signal communication with the reading device via the at least one universal contact when the disk-shaped device is in the interface device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the interface device further comprises:

a power source coupled with the microprocessor, said power source having power and ground contacts which electrically couple with the electrical component in the disk-shaped device via first and second universal contacts when the disk-shaped device is in the interface device.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein after insertion of the disk-shaped device in the interface device, the microprocessor queries the electrical component to configure the at least one interface contact to properly provide the power and ground couplings to the disk-shaped device.

5. A system for locating a disk-shaped portable communications device having at least one universal contact on each side in a defined location, comprising:

an interface device; and

a latching mechanism arranged in the interface device for seating the disk-shaped device at the defined location, wherein each of said at least one universal contact is arranged in the same manner on each side of the disk-shaped device and comes to rest at a respective precise location within the interface device when the disk-shaped device is at the defined location;

wherein the latching mechanism comprises a C-shaped clamp, said disk-shaped device being inserted into an open end of the C-shaped clamp wherein the C-shaped clamp is sized to correspond to the disk-shaped device and is elastically deformable to allow the disk-shaped device to be inserted therein.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the interface device comprises a housing and a display arranged thereon, said interface device communicating with the disk-shaped device via the at least one universal contact and displaying information on the display based on the disk-shaped device.

7. A system for locating a disk-shaped portable communications device having at least one universal contact on each side in a defined location, comprising:

an interface device; and

a latching mechanism arranged in the interface device for seating the disk-shaped device at the defined location, wherein each of said at least one universal contact is arranged in the same manner on each side of the disk-shaped device and comes to rest at a respective precise location within the interface device when the disk-shaped device is at the defined location;

wherein the latching mechanism comprises;

at least one latching arm arranged in the interface device and being pivotable about one end, said latching arm having a convex surface facing an inserted disk-shaped device; and

a spring arranged to bias the latching arm against an insertion force of the disk-shaped device.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a second latching arm having a convex surface arranged to face the convex surface of the first latching arm.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the spring is one of a helical spring, a sprung steel spring and a polymer foam spring.

10. A system for locating a disk-shaped portable communications device having at least one universal contact on each side in a defined location, comprising:

an interface device; and

a latching mechanism arranged in the interface device for seating the disk-shaped device at the defined location, wherein each of said at least one universal contact is arranged in the same manner on each side of the disk-shaped device and comes to rest at a respective precise location within the interface device when the disk-shaped device is at the defined location;

wherein the latching mechanism comprises;

at least one latching arm arranged in the interface device and being pivotable about one end, said latching arm having both a convex and concave surface facing an insertion direction of the disk-shaped device; and

a spring arranged to bias the latching arm against an insertion force of the disk-shaped device;

whereby the convex surface provides a smooth tactile sensation when inserting the disk-shaped device and the concave surface provides a secure positional seating of the disk-shaped device within the interface device.