Portable terminal device

• US 6,397,089 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kabe, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/377,016
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420,419,423,13.4,522,550,556,557,571,572,573,574,127,169.1,195.1,198.1,69 709/217,219
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable terminal device includes a connector connected to a mobile telephone terminal device providing a signal that changes its output depending upon whether power is turned on or not, a power-on detection device connected to the connector, a power supply circuit under control of the power-on detection device, and a data communication device receiving power supply from the power supply circuit, and under control of the output of the power-on detection device. The data communication device includes a processor that activates system software when power supply is initiated. The system software activates communication software in response to an output of the power-on detection device. The portable terminal device can include a data adapter unit coupled between the data communication device and the connector. The data adapter unit may have power controlled by the output of the power-on detection device.

Claims

1. A portable information terminal device comprising:

a connector to be connected to a mobile telephone terminal device of the type providing a first output signal that changes its value depending upon whether power to said mobile telephone terminal device is turned on or not;

a power-on detection device connected to said connector;

a power supply circuit for providing power to the portable information terminal device under control of said power-on detection device; and

a data communication device receiving power from said power supply circuit under control of an output of said power-on detection device.

2. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said data communication device comprises a processor which activates system software when power supply is initiated from said power supply circuit,

said system software activating communication software to carry out said data communication in response to an output of said power-on detection device.

3. The portable terminal device according to claim 2, said system software activating an application program utilizing said communication software in response to an output of said power-on detection device.

4. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a data adapter unit coupled between said data communication device and said connector.

5. The portable terminal device according to claim 4, said data adapter unit having power controlled by an output of said power-on detection device.

6. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a switch for said power supply circuit connected to said power supply circuit.

7. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, said first signal attaining a different voltage level depending upon whether power of said telephone terminal device is turned on or not;

wherein said power on detection device includes a voltage detection device receiving said first signal.

8. The portable terminal device according to claim 7, wherein said power-on detection device further includes a connection status detection unit connected to said terminal of said connector.

9. The portable terminal device according to claim 8, wherein said power-on detection device further comprises

an inverting circuit receiving an output of said voltage detection device, and

a first AND gate having inputs receiving outputs of said inverting circuit and said connection status detection unit, and an output coupled to said data adapter unit and said data communication device.

10. The portable terminal device according to claim 8, wherein said power-on detection device further comprises

a first inverting circuit receiving an output of said voltage detection device, and

a first AND gate having inputs receiving outputs of said first inverting circuit and said connection status detection unit, and an output coupled to said data adapter unit and said data communication device.

11. The portable terminal device according to claim 10, wherein said mode switch circuit includes a logic circuit having an input receiving an output of said voltage detection device, an output of said first inverting circuit, an output of said connection status detection unit, an output of said first AND gate, and said mode specify signal, and an output coupled to said mode signal.

12. The portable terminal device according to claim 11, wherein said logic circuit includes

a second inverting circuit receiving an output of said connection status detection unit,

a second AND gate having inputs receiving an output of said voltage detection circuit and said mode specify signal,

a third AND gate of 3 inputs receiving said mode specify signal, an output of said first inverting circuit, and an output of said second inverting circuit, and

a 3-input OR gate receiving an output of said first AND gate, an output of said second AND gate, and an output of said third AND gate.

13. A portable information terminal device comprising;

a connector to be connected to a mobile telephone terminal device of the type providing a first output signal that changes its value depending upon whether power to said mobile telephone terminal device is turned on or not;

a power-on detection device connected to said connector;

a mode switch circuit having an input receiving an output of said power-on detection device and a predetermined mode specify signal to determine an output mode signal;

a power supply circuit for providing power to the portable information terminal device under control of said output mode signal; and

a data communication device receiving power from said power supply circuit under control of an output of said power-on detection device.

14. The portable terminal device according to claim 13, wherein said data communication device comprises a processor which activates system software when power supply from said power supply circuit is initiated,

said system software activating communication software to carry out said data communication in response to said mode signal.

15. The portable terminal device according to claim 14, said system software activating an application program utilizing said communication software in response to an output of said power-on detection device.

16. The portable terminal device according to claim 14,

said system software further capable of executing an operational mode set application that specifies an operational mode,

said operational mode set application applying a mode specify signal to said mode switch circuit.

17. The portable terminal device according to claim 13, further comprising a data adapter unit coupled between said data communication device and said connector.

18. The portable terminal device according to claim 17, said data adapter unit having power controlled by an output of said power-on detection device.

19. The portable terminal device according to claim 13, further comprising a switch for said power supply circuit connected to said power supply circuit.

20. The portable terminal device according to claim 13, said first signal attaining a different voltage level depending upon whether power of said telephone terminal device is turned on or not;

wherein said power on detection device includes a voltage detection device receiving said first signal.

21. The portable terminal device according to claim 20, wherein said power-on detection device further includes a connection status detection unit connected to said terminal of said connector.