Digital mobile phone with a plurality of switchable subscriber identification modules (SIMS)

• US 6,292,561 B1
• Filed: 01/14/1997
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Imbros Corporation (CGI, Inc.), Stephen Porges
• Original Assignee: Funge Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Benson, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/782,244
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433, 379/428, 379/434, 455/90, 455/575, 235/495
• US Class Current: 379/433.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3818 Arrangements for facilitating insertion or removal of identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The invention is directed to a digital mobile phone of a type using a subscriber identification module, the improvement being that there is an externally attached holder for at least two subscriber identification modules so that either can be readily selected by a switch for use in the same phone. There are also described flexible circuits that are used to connect the electrical contacts used conventionally for reading a subscriber identification module by the phone inside the phone that are able to slip through gaps that are naturally occurring between protective covers of the phone because of necessary manufacturing tolerances so that the external subscriber identification modules can be connected without prejudicing manufacturers warranties on any phone.

Claims

1. A digital mobile phone comprising at least two subscriber identification module cards, and switch means arranged so that a user can change the switch means from one switch position to another switch positions, thereby to select for electrical connection to the mobile phone, one or another of said module cards, each of said module cards permitting said phone to access a respective associated mobile telephone network as a function of the position of said switch means.

2. A digital mobile phone as set forth in claim 1, further including memory means provided in said phone, and further including a software program associated with said memory means and a central processing unit to effect, on a selected bases, switching of the switch to one or another of said module cards.

4. A digital mobile phone as in claim 1 further comprising:

an external card holder, electronically accessible memory and programmed software in said memory to provide additional functions for the digital mobile phone, whereby, said program within the software in memory is adapted to examine a best accessible network connection to be used.

10. A digital mobile phone as in any one of the preceding claims 2 through 5, wherein said wire take offs together comprise an integrated flexible circuit board including a substrate, a laid conducting track for each circuit on the substrate, and an overlay coating.

11. A digital mobile phone as in claim 2, wherein said wire take-offs together comprise an integrated flexible circuit board, including a substrate comprised of polyester plastic material, a laid conducting track for each circuit on the substrate, and an overlay coating of polyester plastic material.

3. A digital mobile phone comprising an internal holder, a user-removable subscriber identification module card within the internal holder, said internal holder including a take-off card for replacing any subscriber identification module disposed therein, and connector means for making electrical connection of said subscriber identification module card to said phone, and a wire take-off for each subscriber identification module connection;

said wire take-off extending outside of the body of the mobile phone to an external subscriber identification module card holder, the external subscriber identification module card holder being adapted to hold at least two subscriber identification module cards each having electrical connections connected to the corresponding wire take-offs connected to said card take-off, and having a switch connected thereto to change connection of the wire take-offs from a first subscriber identification module card in the external card holder to another subscriber identification module card in the external card holder, each of said subscriber identification module cards permitting said phone to access a respective associated mobile telephone network as a function of a position of said switch.

5. A digital mobile phone as set forth in claim 3, further including:

an electronics switch operable by said software, whereby a network provider may be chosen on the basis of either cost or best signal.

6. An existing mobile digital phone comprising an external holder attachable to the mobile digital phone and adapted to receive at least two subscriber identification module cards;

switch means for providing access to any one of a plurality of subscriber identification module cards in said external holder; and

means for connecting such received subscriber identification module card electrically to a subscriber identification module take-off adaptor located within an internal subscriber identification module card holder in the digital mobile phone, each of said module cards permitting said phone to access a respective associated mobile telephone network as a function of a position of said switch means.

7. A digital mobile phone having a user removable subscriber identification module card internal holder comprising:

a take-off card disposed within said subscriber identification module card holder for making electrical connection between said subscriber identification module card and said phone;

a wire take-off for each subscriber identification module connection, said wire take-off extending outside of the body of said phone to an external subscriber identification module card holder;

said external subscriber identification module card holder being adapted to hold at least two subscriber identification module cards, each being provided with electrical connectors for connection to corresponding wire take-offs connected to said wire take-off; and

a switch connected to said wire take-offs to change connection of the wire take-offs from a first subscriber identification module card in the external card holder to another subscriber identification module card in the external card holder, each of said module cards permitting said phone to access a respective associated mobile telephone network as a function of a position of said switch.

8. A digital mobile phone comprising a user-removable subscriber identification module card holder and a take-off card having a wire take-off for each subscriber identification module connection within the holder;

said wire take-off adapted to extend outside of the body of said mobile phone to an external subscriber identification module card holder attached to the phone casing;

the external subscriber identification module card holder being adapted to hold at least two subscriber identification module cards, each having its electrical connections connected to corresponding wire take-offs connected to said wire take-off; and

further including a switch connecting the wire take-offs from a first subscriber identification module card in the external card holder to another subscriber identification module card in the external card holder, each of said module cards permitting said phone to access a respective associated mobile telephone network as a function of a position of said switch.

9. A digital mobile phone comprising a user-removable subscriber identification module card internal holder, said internal subscriber identification module card holder including a take-off card having electrical contacts replicating a subscriber identification module card that would otherwise be mounted therein, and making electrical connection to said phone;

a wire take-off for each subscriber identification module connection, each such wire take-off extending outside of the body of said mobile phone to an external subscriber identification module card holder;

the external subscriber identification module card holder being adapted to hold at least two subscriber identification module cards, each having its electrical connections connected to the corresponding wire take-offs connected to said take-off card, and

a switch connected to said take-off to change connection from one of the subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder to a second of the subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder, each of said module cards permitting said phone to access a respective associated mobile telephone network as a function of a position of said switch.

12. A digital mobile phone using a subscriber identification module comprising:

an externally-attached holder for at least two subscriber identification modules, whereby either one or another of said modules can be selected by a switch to be electrically connected for use with said phone, each of said modules permitting said phone to access a respective associated mobile telephone network as a function of a position of said switch.

13. A digital mobile phone as in claim 12, further including:

memory means within said phone and a software program in said memory means and a central processing unit to effect switching of said switch to one or another of said modules.