Portable electronic device

• US 6,314,483 B1
• Filed: 02/12/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Goto, Teiyu, Kutaragi, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoleil, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US09/250,070
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 710/107, 710/102, 710/72, 463/1, 463/42, 463/43, 463/46, 463/48, 361/681, 361/683, 361/684, 361/686, 361/679
• US Class Current: 710/107
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/408 Peer to peer connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

A portable electronic device adapted to be connected to or disconnected from an external device comprises a housing which accommodates an electrical circuit and which has a terminal adapted to be connected to the external device. A lid member is pivotally supported by the housing for movement between a first position covering the terminal and a second position exposing the terminal.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device adapted to be removably connected to an external device, comprising:

a housing having an access opening therein;

an electrical circuit accommodated in said housing and having a terminal adapted to be connected to said external device, said terminal being accessible via said access opening in said housing;

a lid member pivotally mounted to said housing for movement between a first position covering said terminal and second position exposing said terminal through said access opening, said terminal being adapted to be coupled with said external device via said access opening when said lid member is in said second position;

at least one actuator button supported on said lid member;

at least one switch mounted on said electrical circuit; and

at least one switch element disposed in said housing and in registration with said at least one actuator button and said at least one switch;

wherein a force is applied to said at least one switch.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a display member on said housing for displaying information.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting member for transmitting data to another portable electronic apparatus or another external device.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit includes a processor and a memory for storing an application software downloaded from said external device to be executed on said processor.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit includes a memory for storing data downloaded from said external device.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said external device is a video game device, and wherein said electrical circuit includes a processor and a memory for storing an application software related to a video game and downloaded from said external device, said application software being executed on said processor.

7. The device according to claim 7, wherein said lid member is selectively mounted on or removed from said housing.

8. A system comprising an external device and a portable electronic device capable of being removably connected to said external device, said portable electronic device comprising:

a housing having an access opening;

an electrical circuit accommodated in said housing and having a terminal adapted to be connected to said external device, said terminal being accessible via said access opening in said housing;

a lid member pivotally mounted to said housing for movement between a first position covering said terminal and a second position exposing said terminal through said access opening, said terminal being adapted to be coupled with said external device via said access opening when said lid member is in said second position;

at least one actuator button supported on said lid member;

at least one switch mounted on said electrical circuit; and

at least one switch element disposed in said housing and in registration with said at least one actuator button and said at least one switch;

wherein a force is applied to said at least one switch.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a display member on said portable electronic device for displaying information.

10. The system according to claim 8, said portable electronic device further comprising a transmitting member for transmitting data to another portable electronic apparatus or another external device.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein said electrical circuit includes a processor and a memory for storing an application software downloaded from said external device to be executed on said processor.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein said electrical circuit includes a memory for storing data downloaded from said external device.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein said external device is a video game device, and wherein said electrical circuit includes a processor and a memory for storing an application software related to a video game and downloaded from said external device, said application software being executed on said processor.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein said lid member is selectively mounted on or removed from said housing.