Card type input/output interface device and electronic device system using the same

• US 5,357,091 A
• Filed: 04/30/1992
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1991
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Suzuki, Shigeru, Ozawa, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelli, Raymond A.
• Application Number:
  US07/875,800
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 395/200, 395/325
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles

Abstract

A card type input/output interface device includes a first connection part for transferring data between a main body of an electronic device and the card type input/output interface device, a second connection part which is coupled to the first connection part and transfers data between an external device and the card type input/output interface device, and a card supporting the first and second connection part. The first connection part is accommodated in the main body when the card type input/output interface device is inserted into a slot provided in the main body.

Claims

1. A card type input/output interface device comprising:

first data transmission means for transferring data between a main body of an electronic device and the card type input/output interface device;

second data transmission means, coupled to said first data transmission means, for transferring data between an external device and the card type input/output interface device; and

a card supporting said first and second data transmission means,

said first data transmission means being accommodated in said main body when the card type input/output interface device is inserted into a slot provided in said main body of the electronic device so as to transfer data between said card type input/output interface device and said electronic device.

2. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second data transmission means comprises radio transmitter/receiver means for transferring the data between said external device and the card type input/output interface device through a radio communications channel.

3. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 2, and further comprising data transfer circuit means, interposed between said first and second data transmission means, for providing an interface of data transfer between said first data transmission means and said radio transmitter/receiver means.

4. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second data transmission means comprises an antenna coupled to said radio transmitter/reciever means.

5. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said antenna is a rod type antenna.

6. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said antenna is a rod type antenna which is contractible and expandable.

7. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said antenna is a rod type antenna which is contractible and expandable and which is rotatably supported to said card.

8. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said antenna is an edge portion of said card.

9. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said card has a projection in which said second data transmission means is provided;

said first data transmission means is located in a first end portion of said card and said second data transmission means is located in a second end portion opposite said first end portion; and

a thickness of said second end portion of said card including said projection is greater than a thickness of said first end portion of said card.

10. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said projection upwardly projects from a surface of said card.

11. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said projection projects upwardly and downwardly projects from opposing surfaces of said card.

12. A card type input/out interface device as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said card has a first width in said first end portion;

said projection has a second width in said second end portion; and

said first width is equal to said second width.

13. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said card has a first width in said first end portion;

said projection has a second width in said second end portion; and

said second width is smaller than said first width.

14. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second data transmission means comprises a connector formed in said projection for electrically connecting the card type input/output interface device to said external device.

15. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said connector is a pin modular connector.

16. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said connector is a Centro-connector.

17. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said connector is an RS-232C connector.

18. A card type input/output interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first data transmission means comprises a connector for electrically connecting said the card type input/output interface device to said electronic device.

19. An electronic device system comprising:

a main body of an electronic device, said main body comprising a slot;

a card type input/output interface device operable to be inserted into said slot; and

an external device,

wherein said card type input/output interface device comprises;

first data transmission means for transferring data between the main body and the card type input/output interface device;

second data transmission means, coupled to said first data transmission means, for transferring data between said external device and said card type input/output interface device; and

a card supporting said first and second data transmission means,

said first data transmission means being accommodated in said main body when said card type input/output interface device is inserted into said slot provided in the main body so as to transfer data between said external device and said card type input/output device and said electronic device, and wherein;

the main body comprises third data transmission means, coupled to said first data transmission means, for coupling the main body and said card type input/output interface device with each other and transferring data therebetween; and

said external device comprises fourth data transmission means, coupled to said second data transmission means, for coupling said card type input/output interface device and said external device with each other and transferring data therebetween.

20. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said second data transmission means comprises first radio transmitter/receiver means for transferring the data between said external device and said card type input/output interface device through a radio communications channel; and

said fourth data transmission means comprises second radio transmission/receiver means for transferring the data between said external device and said card type input/output interface device through said radio communications channel.

21. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said card type input/output interface device further comprises data transfer circuit means, interposed between said first and second data transmission means, for providing an interface of data transfer between said first data transmission means and said first radio transmitter/receiver means.

22. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

said second data transmission means comprises a first antenna coupled to said first radio transmitter/receiver means; and

said fourth data transmission means comprises a second antenna coupled to said second radio transmitter/receiver means.

23. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first antenna is a rod type antenna.

24. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first antenna is a rod type antenna which is contractible and expandable.

25. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first antenna is a rod type antenna which is contractible and expandable and which is rotatably supported to said card.

26. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first antenna is an edge portion of said card.

27. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said card has a projection in which said second data transmission means is provided;

said first data transmission means is located in a first end portion of said card and said second connection means is located in a second end portion opposite said first end portion; and

a thickness of said second end portion of said card including said projection is greater than a thickness of said first end portion of said card.

28. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said projection upwardly projects from a surface of the card.

29. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said projection projects upwardly and downwardly projects from opposing surfaces of said card.

30. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 27, wherein:

said card has a first width in said first end portion;

said projection has a second width in said second end portion; and

said first width is equal to said second width.

31. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 27, wherein:

said card has a first width in said first end portion;

said projection has a second width in said second end portion; and

said second width is smaller than said first width.

32. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said second data transmission means comprises a connector formed in said projection for electrically connecting said card type input/output interface device to said external device.

33. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 32, wherein said connector is a pin modular connector.

34. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 32, wherein said connector is a Centro-connector.

35. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 32, wherein said connector is an RS-232C connector.

36. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said first data transmission means comprises a connector for electrically connecting said card type input/output interface device to said main body.

37. An electronic device system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said external device comprises fifth data transmission means, coupled to said second radio transmitter/receiver means, for coupling said external device to another external device and transferring data therebetween.