Information display apparatus

• US 7,042,718 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakuma, Kazushi, Aoki, Yoshihiko, Shibuya, Hirohisa, Nishomiya, Masataka
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/356,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20030161099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 361680-683, 361/686, 361/684, 70/58, 70/59, 455/411, 455/26.1, 455/575.1, 455/899, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 345/173, 345/174, 345/169, 349/58, 248/551, 248/553, 710/303, 710/304, 709208-216, 709227-246, 382181-231, 713200-202
• US Class Current: 361/679.29
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/02 Movement of the bolt by electromagnetic means; Adaptation of locks, latches, or parts thereof, for movement of the bolt by electromagnetic means by means in the striker E05B63/248
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A portable information terminal apparatus includes a portable information terminal unit having a display surface capable of displaying the information and a cradle on which the portable information terminal unit can be detachably mounted. When the portable information terminal unit is loaded on the cradle, data can be transmitted/received to or from another electronic equipment through the cradle. The portable information terminal apparatus includes a lock mechanism for switching the portable information terminal unit between a locked state and an unlocked state when the portable information terminal unit is loaded on the cradle. The portable information terminal unit includes an information readout unit for reading out the contact information and a controlling unit for controlling the lock mechanism when the information readout unit has read out the preset contact information.

Claims

1. A portable information apparatus, comprising:

a portable information terminal unit having a display element for displaying information and a transparent pressure-sensitive panel arranged on the display element for performing input operations;

a cradle for detachably mounting the portable information terminal unit thereto, in which, when the portable information terminal unit is loaded on said cradle, data can be transmitted or received between the portable information terminal unit and other electronic equipment through said cradle;

a cradle connecting unit for detecting the loading of the terminal unit to the cradle and transmitting a loading detection signal;

a lock driving unit for locking the portable information terminal unit to said cradle; and

a control means for controlling the lock driving unit to lock the portable information terminal unit to the cradle in response to the loading detection signal transmitted by the cradle connecting unit, and for controlling the lock driving unit to unlock the portable information terminal unit from the cradle in response to a user'"'"'s input of a pattern drawn on the pressure-sensitive panel that coincides with a registered pattern,

wherein said control means requires a selected pattern to be drawn by a user on said pressure-sensitive panel when the portable information terminal unit is loaded on the cradle before the control means controls the lock driving unit to lock the portable information terminal unit to the cradle.

2. The portable information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said portable information terminal unit comprises a DRAM in which said registered pattern is stored.

3. The portable information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said portable information terminal unit comprises a DRAM in which said registered pattern is stored, and wherein said selected pattern is stored in said DRAM as said registered pattern that must be matched by a user'"'"'s input through the pressure-sensitive panel before the lock driving unit is controlled by the control means to unlock the portable information terminal unit from the cradle.

4. The portable information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a CPU arranged to receive the loading detection signal transmitted by the cradle connecting unit, to control the lock driving unit, and to verify whether or not a user'"'"'s input coincides with the registered pattern.

5. The portable information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said registered pattern comprises a simple figure or curved pattern drawn on the pressure-sensitive panel.

6. The portable information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said registered pattern is a pattern which was previously drawn by a user on the pressure-sensitive panel when locking the portable information terminal unit to the cradle.

7. A lock controlling system, comprising:

a portable information terminal unit having a display element for displaying information and a transparent pressure-sensitive panel arranged on the display element for performing input operations;

a cradle connected to an electronic equipment, said cradle having a means for detachably mounting the portable information terminal unit thereto such that when the portable information terminal unit is loaded on said cradle, data can be transmitted or received between the portable information terminal unit and said electronic equipment through said cradle;

a cradle connecting unit for detecting the loading of the terminal unit to the cradle and transmitting a loading detection signal;

a lock driving unit for locking the portable information terminal unit to said cradle; and

a control means for controlling the lock driving unit to lock the portable information terminal unit to the cradle in response to the loading detection signal transmitted by the cradle connecting unit, and for controlling the lock driving unit to unlock the portable information terminal unit from the cradle in response to a user'"'"'s input of a pattern drawn on the pressure-sensitive panel that coincides with a registered pattern,

wherein said control means requires a selected pattern to be drawn by a user on said pressure-sensitive panel while the portable information terminal unit is mounted in the cradle before the control means controls the lock driving unit to lock the portable information terminal unit to the cradle.

8. The lock controlling system according to claim 7, wherein said portable information terminal unit comprises a DRAM in which said registered pattern is stored.

9. The lock controlling system according to claim 7, wherein said portable information terminal unit comprises a DRAM in which said registered pattern is stored, and wherein said selected pattern is stored in said DRAM as said registered pattern that must be matched by a user'"'"'s input through the pressure-sensitive panel before the lock driving unit is controlled by the control means to unlock the portable information terminal unit from the cradle.

10. The lock controlling system according to claim 7, wherein said control means comprises a CPU arranged to receive the loading detection signal transmitted by the cradle connecting unit, to control the lock driving unit, and to verify whether or not a user'"'"'s input coincides with the registered pattern.

11. The lock controlling system according to claim 7, wherein said registered pattern coincides with a simple figure or curved pattern drawn on the pressure-sensitive panel.

12. The lock controlling system according to claim 7, wherein said registered pattern is a pattern which was previously drawn by a user on the pressure-sensitive panel when locking the portable information terminal unit to the cradle.