Interface cable

• US 6,466,437 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I-O Data Device, Inc., Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: I-O Data Device, Inc., Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Kuroda, Takashi, Inomata, Satoru, Tsubono, Masanori, Kakinoki, Wataru, Sakuragi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/603,651
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/680-683, 361/725-727, 361/741, 361/754, 361/756, D 6/396, D 6/397, D14/100, D14/114, 439/67.77
• US Class Current: 361/679.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438

Abstract

An interface cable allows the number of components and manufacturing costs to be reduced. The interface cable has a housing defining an inner volume which has an opening. A first connector is removably connectable to one of a computer and a portable terminal. The first connector protrudes through the opening in the housing. An interface circuit is coupled to the first connector in which the interface circuit is located within the housing. A cable is coupled to the interface circuit. A second connector is removably connectable to the other of the computer and the portable terminal.

Claims

1. A device for facilitating communication between a portable terminal and a computer, the device comprising:

a housing defining an inner volume and having an opening;

a first connector removably connectable to one of a computer and a portable terminal, the first connector being disposed at the opening;

an interface circuit coupled to the first connector, the interface circuit being located within the housing;

a second connector removably connectable to the other of the computer and the portable terminal, the second connector being separated from the housing; and

a cable disposed between the interface circuit and the second connector;

wherein the interface circuit is disposed between the first connector and second connector.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is comprised of sixteen pins and the second connector is comprised of four pins.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is a PDC connector and the second connector is a USB connector.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is a USB connector and the second connector is a PDC connector.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interface circuit is comprised of:

a circuit board having;

an obverse face;

a reverse face on a side opposite the obverse face; and

at least one electrode section on a surface of at least one of the obverse face and the reverse face located at a first edge area of the circuit board, the edge area being at approximately an end of the obverse face and the reverse face; and

at least one circuit element mounted on at least one of the obverse face and reverse face,

wherein the first connector is coupled to the at least one electrode section at the first edge area.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the circuit board has a plurality of circuit elements, at least one circuit element being mounted to the obverse face and at least one circuit element being mounted to the reverse face.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the circuit board has a plurality of electrode sections and the first connector has a plurality of electrode terminals coupled to respective electrode sections.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrode sections is located on the obverse face and another of the plurality of electrode sections is located on the reverse face, the plurality of electrode terminals being arranged into two rows, the circuit board being positioned between the rows.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of electrode sections are all located on one of the obverse face and the reverse face.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of electrode sections are arranged in a plurality of rows.

11. The device according to claim 5, wherein the circuit board further includes at least one other electrode section on a surface of at least one of the obverse face and the reverse face located at a second edge area of the circuit board, the second edge area being at approximately an end of the obverse face and the reverse face opposite the first edge area.

12. The interface device according to claim 11, wherein the cable is coupled to the interface circuit at respective one of the at least one electrode section located at the second edge of the circuit board.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are each comprised of a different number of electrode terminals, the first connector having a greater number of electrode terminals than the second connector.

14. An interface device for coupling a PDC terminal with a USB terminal on a computer, the device comprising:

a housing defining an inner volume and having an opening;

a PDC connector removably connectable to the PDC terminal, the PDC connector being disposed at the opening;

an interface circuit coupled to the PDC connector, the interface circuit being located within the housing;

a USB connector removably connectable to the computer, the USB connector being separated from the housing; and

a cable disposed between the interface circuit and the USB connector;

wherein the interface circuit is disposed between the PDC connector and the USB connector.

15. The interface device according to claim 14, wherein the interface circuit is comprised of:

a circuit board having;

an obverse face;

a reverse face on a side opposite the obverse face;

at least one electrode section on a surface of at least one of the obverse face and the reverse face located at a first edge area of the circuit board, the first edge area being at approximately an end of the obverse face and the reverse face;

at least one other electrode section on a surface of at least one of the obverse face and the reverse face located at a second edge area of the circuit board, the second edge area being at approximately an end of the obverse face and the reverse face opposite the first edge area;

at least one circuit element mounted on at least one of the obverse face and reverse face,

wherein the first connector is coupled to the at least one electrode section at the edge area.

16. The interface device according to claim 15, wherein the cable is coupled to the interface circuit at respective one of the at least one electrode section located at the second edge of the circuit board.

17. The interface device according to claim 16, wherein the cable includes four wires.