Information exchanging device for use with handy personal information processing device

• US 6,701,394 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Wang, Jong-Ding
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US09/870,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 710/62, 320/115, 439/131, 361/686, 713/300
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4045 where the bus bridge performs an extender function

Abstract

An information exchanging device is disclosed. The information exchanging device includes two separate but engagable housings which are mounted thereon two connectors for electrically connecting to two handy personal information processing devices such as PDAs or cellular phones, respectively. The two connectors are electrically connected to each other via an information exchanging circuit after the two housings engages with each other. The information exchanging circuit can be further connected to a personal computer. The information exchanging operation between the two handy personal information processing devices is performed in response to a triggering signal generated by pressing an actuating button or manipulating the personal computer.

Claims

1. An information exchanging device for exchanging information between a first and a second handy personal information processing devices, comprising:

a first seat for supporting said first handy personal information processing device;

a first connector positioned at said first seat for electrically connecting to said first handy personal information processing device;

a second seat for supporting said second handy personal information processing device;

a second connector positioned at said second seat for electrically connecting to said second handy personal information processing device; and

a signal transmission cable positioned at one of said first seat and said second seat for electrically connecting an information exchanging circuit to a personal computer;

wherein the information exchanging circuit is electrically connected between said first and second connectors for performing an information exchanging operation for said first and second handy personal information processing devices in response to a triggering signal.

2. The information exchanging device according to claim 1 further comprising a charging device electrically connected to said first and second connectors for charging said first and second handy personal information processing devices.

3. The information exchanging device according to claim 2 wherein said charging device automatically charges said first and/or second handy personal information processing devices upon said first and/or second handy personal information processing devices are seated.

4. The information exchanging device according to claim 2 wherein said charging device includes a first charging circuit for charging said first handy personal information processing device, and a second charging circuit for charging said second handy personal information processing device.

5. The information exchanging device according to claim 4 wherein said first seat, first connector and first charging circuit are accommodated in a first housing, and said second seat, second connector and second charging circuit are accommodated in a second housing separable from said first housing.

6. The information exchanging device according to claim 5 wherein said second charging circuit is electrically connected to said first charging circuit when said first and second housings engage with each other, and one of said first and second charging circuits is connected to a power source.

7. The information exchanging device according to claim 1 wherein said first seat and first connector are accommodated in a first housing, and said second seat and second connector are accommodated in a second housing separable from said first housing.

8. The information exchanging device according to claim 7 wherein said information exchanging circuit includes a first sub-circuit accommodated in said first housing and a second sub-circuit accommodated in said second housing, which are connected to each other when said first and second housings engage with each other in order to perform said information exchanging operation.

9. The information exchanging device according to claim 8 wherein said triggering signal is generated by pressing an actuating button on one of said first and second housings after the engagement of said first and second housings.

10. The information exchanging device according to claim 1 wherein said information exchanging circuit includes a micro-controller.

11. The information exchanging device according to claim 1 wherein said information exchanging operation includes steps of exchanging information between said first handy personal information processing device and said personal computer, and exchanging information between said second handy personal information processing device and said personal computer.

12. The information exchanging device according to claim 11 wherein said information exchanging operation further includes a step of exchanging information between said first handy personal information processing device and said personal computer again after exchanging information between said second handy personal information processing device and said personal computer.

13. The information exchanging device according to claim 12 wherein said triggering signal is generated from said personal computer.

14. The information exchanging device according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second handy personal information processing devices is selected from a group consisting of a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

15. The information exchanging device according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second seats are in a slot form.

16. An information exchanging device for exchanging information between a first and a second handy personal information processing devices, comprising:

a first connector for electrically connecting to said first handy personal information processing device;

a second connector for electrically connecting to said second handy personal information processing device; and

a signal transmission cable positioned at one of said first connector and said second connector for electrically connecting an information exchanging circuit to a personal computer;

wherein the information exchanging circuit is electrically connected between said first and second connectors for performing an information exchanging operation for said first and second handy personal information processing devices in response to a triggering signal.

17. The information exchanging device according to claim 16 further comprising a charging device electrically connected to said first and second connectors for charging said first and second handy personal information processing devices.

18. The information exchanging device according to claim 16 wherein said information exchanging circuit includes a micro-controller.

19. The information exchanging device according to claim 16 wherein said information exchanging operation includes steps of exchanging information between said first handy personal information processing device and said personal computer, and exchanging information between said second handy personal information processing device and said personal computer.

20. The information exchanging device according to claim 19 wherein said information exchanging operation further includes a step of exchanging information between said first handy personal information processing device and said personal computer again after exchanging information between said second handy personal information processing device and said personal computer.

21. The information exchanging device according to claim 16 wherein each of said first and second handy personal information processing devices is selected from a group consisting of a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

22. An information exchanging charger for charging a first and a second handy personal information processing devices, and optionally exchanging information between said first and second handy personal information processing devices, comprising:

a first charging seat for receiving said first handy personal information processing device;

a second charging seat for receiving said second handy personal information processing device;

a charging circuit for charging said first and/or second handy personal information processing devices when said first and/or second handy personal information processing devices are seated; and

a sign transmission cable positioned at one of said first charging seat and said second charging seat for electrically connecting an information exchanging circuit to a personal computer;

the information exchanging circuit for exchanging information between said first and second handy personal information processing devices when both of said first and second handy personal information processing devices are seated.

23. The information exchanging charger according to claim 22 wherein said charging circuit includes a first charging unit for charging said first handy personal information processing device, and a second charging unit for charging said second handy personal information processing device.

24. The information exchanging charger according to claim 23 wherein said first charging seat and first charging unit are accommodated in a first housing, and said second charging seat and second charging unit are accommodated in a second housing separable from said first housing.

25. The information exchanging charger according to claim 24 wherein said second charging unit is electrically connected to said first charging unit when said first and second housings engage with each other, and one of said first and second charging units is connected to a power source.

26. The information exchanging charger according to claim 22 wherein said information exchanging circuit includes a micro-controller.

27. The information exchanging charger according to claim 22 wherein said information exchanging operation includes steps of exchanging information between said first handy personal information processing device and said personal computer, and exchanging information between said second handy personal information processing device and said personal computer.

28. The information exchanging charger according to claim 27 wherein said information exchanging operation further includes a step of exchanging information between said first handy personal information processing device and said personal computer again after exchanging information between said second handy personal information processing device and said personal computer.

29. The information exchanging charger according to claim 22 wherein each of said first and second handy personal information processing devices is selected from a group consisting of a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA).