Expandable miniature accessory card for handheld computer

• US 20040225796A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wong, Yoon Kean, Hanson, William Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/821,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20040225796A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07741 comprising a first part operating as a regular record carrier and a second attachable part that changes the functional appearance of said record carrier, e.g. a contact-based smart card with an adapter part which, when attached to the contact card makes the contact card function as a non-contact card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0013 by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers connectors in general H01R13/00; connectors for SIM cards used in mobile phones or the like H04B1/3816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0034 the connector being capable of simultaneously receiving a plurality of cards in the same insertion slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC

Abstract

An expansion device for a handheld computer is disclosed. The expansion device includes a Secure Digital input/output (SDIO) card including an interface configured to be coupled to the handheld computer. The expansion device also includes an accessory device coupled to the SDIO card. Further, the expansion device includes an expansion slot coupled to the SDIO card. The expansion slot is configured to selectively couple to one of a Secure Digital (SD) card and a multimedia card (MMC).

Claims

1. An expansion device for a handheld computer, comprising:

a Secure Digital input/output (SDIO) card including an interface configured to be coupled to the handheld computer in a slot in a housing of the handheld computer;

an accessory device coupled to the SDIO card;

an expansion slot coupled to the SDIO card, the expansion slot configured to selectively couple to one of a Secure Digital (SD) card and a multimedia card (MMC) the slot configured to be located overlying a back side of the handheld computer.

2. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the SDIO card includes Secure Digital (SD) memory.

3. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to be coupled to a slot in a housing of the handheld computer.

4. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a positioning system device.

5. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 4, wherein the positioning system device includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

6. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes an audio player.

7. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 6, wherein the audio player is an MPEG3 (MP3) player.

8. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a voice recorder.

9. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a Bluetooth transceiver.

10. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a digital camera.

11. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a tuner.

12. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 11, wherein the tuner is a frequency modulation (FM) tuner.

13. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 11, wherein the tuner is a television tuner.

14. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a networking card.

15. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a wireless communications card.

16. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a pedometer.

17. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a cellular telephone transceiver.

18. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the expansion slot is configured to accept a MMC memory card.

19. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the expansion slot is configured to accept a SD memory card.

20. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein both of a SD memory card and a MMC memory card may be used selectively and singularly in the expansion slot.

21. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the expansion slot is configured to accept a battery.

22. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 21, wherein the battery is rechargeable.

23. The expansion device for a handheld computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a second expansion slot coupled to the SDIO card, the second expansion slot configured to selectively couple to at least one of a Secure Digital (SD) card and a multimedia card (MMC).

24. A handheld computer comprising:

a housing;

a slot in the housing, the slot including an electrical connector;

a Secure Digital input/output (SDIO) card including an interface coupled to the slot in the housing and coupled to the electrical connector;

an accessory device coupled to the SDIO card;

an expansion slot coupled to the SDIO card the slot located overlying a back side of the housing, the expansion slot configured to selectively couple to one of a Secure Digital (SD) card and a multimedia card (MMC).

25. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the SDIO card includes Secure Digital (SD) memory.

26. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the interface is configured to be coupled to a slot in a housing of the handheld computer.

27. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the accessory device includes a positioning system device.

28. The handheld computer of claim 27, wherein the positioning system device includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

29. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the accessory device includes an audio player.

30. The handheld computer of claim 29, wherein the audio player is an MPEG3 (MP3) player.

31. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the accessory device includes a voice recorder.

32. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the accessory device includes a Bluetooth transceiver.

33. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the accessory device includes a digital camera.

34. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the accessory device includes a tuner.

35. The handheld computer of claim 34, wherein the tuner is a frequency modulation (FM) tuner.

36. The handheld computer of claim 34, wherein the tuner is a television tuner.

37. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the accessory device includes a networking card.

38. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the accessory device includes a wireless networking card.

39. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the accessory device includes a pedometer.

40. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the accessory device includes a cellular telephone transceiver.

41. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the expansion slot is configured to accept a MMC memory card.

42. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the expansion slot is configured to accept a SD memory card.

43. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein both of a SD memory card and a MMC memory card may be used selectively and singularly in the expansion slot.

44. The handheld computer of claim 24, wherein the expansion slot is configured to accept a battery.

45. The handheld computer of claim 44, wherein the battery is rechargeable.

46. The handheld computer of claim 24, further comprising:

a second expansion slot coupled to the SDIO card, the second expansion slot configured to selectively couple to at least one of a Secure Digital (SD) card and a multimedia card (MMC).

47. An expansion device for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a Secure Digital input/output (SDIO) card including an interface configured to be coupled to the electronic device;

an accessory device coupled to the SDIO card;

an expansion slot coupled to the SDIO card, the expansion slot configured to selectively couple to one of a Secure Digital (SD) card and a multimedia card (MMC).

48. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the SDIO card includes Secure Digital (SD) memory.

49. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the interface is configured to be coupled to a slot in a housing of the portable electronic device.

50. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the accessory device includes a positioning system device.

51. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 50, wherein the positioning system device includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

52. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the accessory device includes an audio player.

53. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 52, wherein the accessory device includes an MPEG3 (MP3) player.

54. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the accessory device includes a voice recorder.

55. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the accessory device includes a Bluetooth transceiver.

56. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47 herein the accessory device includes a digital camera.

57. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the accessory device includes a tuner.

58. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 57, wherein the tuner is a frequency modulation (FM) tuner.

59. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 57, wherein the tuner is a television tuner.

60. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the accessory device includes a networking card.

61. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the accessory device includes a pedometer.

62. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the accessory device includes a cellular telephone transceiver.

63. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the expansion slot is configured to accept a MMC memory card.

64. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the expansion slot is configured to accept a SD memory card.

65. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein both of a SD memory card and a MMC memory card may be used selectively and singularly in the expansion slot.

66. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the expansion slot is configured to accept a battery.

67. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 66, wherein the battery is rechargeable.

68. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, further comprising:

a second expansion slot coupled to the SDIO card, the second expansion slot configured to selectively couple to at least one of a Secure Digital (SD) card and a multimedia card (MMC).

69. The expansion device for a portable electronic device of claim 47, wherein the accessory device includes a wireless networking card.