Information processing apparatus, wireless communication card, and information processing system

• US 6,751,476 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Masaki, Toshiyuki, Hibi, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US10/279,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/97, 455/90, 343/702, 343/828
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices

Abstract

An information processing apparatus utilizes a function of a wireless communication card including a control section and a wireless communication section. The apparatus includes a body, and an antenna supported by the apparatus main body. A slot is provided to the body and configured to detachably insert the card therein. A first connector is provided to the apparatus main body, and configured to connect the control section to the body when the card is inserted in the slot. A second connector is provided to the body, and configured to connect the wireless communication section to the antenna in a state where the card is inserted the slot.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, which utilizes a function of a wireless communication card including a control section and a wireless communication section, the apparatus comprising:

a base unit having a data processing function;

a panel unit rotatably attached to the base unit by a hinge and including a display portion;

a wireless communication antenna supported by the panel unit;

a slot formed in the base unit near the hinge and configured to receive the card;

a first connector disposed in the slot and configured to be joined with a third connector of the card, the first connector being joined with the third connector to interface-connect the control section of the card to the base unit when the card is inserted in the slot; and

a second connector disposed on a lateral side of the slot facing the hinge and configured to be joined with a fourth connector of the card, the second connector being joined with the fourth connector to connect the wireless communication section of the card to the antenna in conjunction with an operation of inserting the card into the slot.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is disposed at an innermost portion of the slot.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second connector comprises a coaxial connector.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the coaxial connector comprises a jack.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slot accommodates the card substantially entirely.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication antenna is disposed on an upper portion of the panel unit.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the wireless communication antenna is embedded in the panel unit, and covered with a non-metal material member.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the wireless communication antenna is disposed on the panel unit, at a position close to a side where the slot is formed.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a driving circuit for the display portion is disposed on one side of the panel unit, and a cable connecting the second connector to the wireless communication antenna is disposed on the other side opposite to the one side.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication antenna comprises a plurality of wireless communication antennas for transmission frequency bands different from each other, and the slot, the first connector, and the second connector respectively comprise a plurality of slots, a plurality of first connectors, and a plurality of second connectors in correspondence with a plurality of wireless communication cards to be respectively connected to the plurality of wireless communication antennas.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein wireless communication with the wireless communication antenna is performed by a wireless LAN or Bluetooth.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slot is configured to receive an information-processing peripheral device having a card shape, other than the wireless communication card, and the first connector is configured to interface-connect the peripheral device to the base unit when the peripheral device is inserted in the slot.

13. An information processing system comprising a wireless communication card, which includes a control section and a wireless communication section, and an information processing apparatus, which utilizes a function of the wireless communication card;

the information processing apparatus comprising;

a base unit having a data processing function;

a panel unit rotatably attached to the base unit by a hinge and including a display portion;

a wireless communication antenna supported by the panel unit;

a slot formed in the base unit near the hinge and configured to receive the card;

a first connector disposed in the slot and configured to be joined with a third connector of the card; and

a second connector disposed on a lateral side of the slot facing the hinge and configured to be joined with a fourth connector of the card; and

the wireless communication card comprising;

a card casing forming a card shape;

a circuit disposed in the card casing and including the control section and the wireless communication section;

the third connector disposed on the card casing and configured to be joined with the first connector of the apparatus, the third connector being joined with the first connector to interface-connect the control section of the card to the base unit when the card is inserted in the slot; and

the fourth connector projecting from a lateral side of the card casing and configured to be joined with the second connector of the apparatus, the fourth connector being joined with the second connector to connect the wireless communication section of the card to the antenna in conjunction with an operation of inserting the card into the slot.

14. A wireless communication card to be detachably inserted in a slot formed in an information processing apparatus, which includes a wireless communication antenna, a first connector for interface-connection disposed in the slot, and a second connector for antenna connection disposed on a lateral side of the slot, the wireless communication card comprising:

a card casing forming a card shape;

a circuit disposed in the card casing and including a control section and a wireless communication section connected to the control section;

a third connector disposed on the card casing and configured to be joined with the first connector of the apparatus, the third connector being joined with the first connector to interface-connect the control section of the card to the base unit in a state where the card is inserted in the slot; and

a fourth connector projecting on a lateral side of the card casing and configured to be joined with the second connector of the apparatus, the fourth connector being joined with the second connector to connect the wireless communication section of the card to the antenna in company with an operation of inserting the card into the slot.

15. The card according to claim 14, wherein the third connector is disposed at a distal end of the card casing in a direction in which the card is inserted into the slot.

16. The card according to claim 14, wherein the fourth connector comprises a coaxial connector.

17. The card according to claim 16, wherein the coaxial connector comprises a plug.