Multiple card-loading socket for a mobile communication terminal

A mobile communication terminal is disclosed with a card-loading socket for loading a first card and a second card. The mobile communication terminal comprises a socket body disposed in a housing of the mobile communication terminal comprising a first portion with at least one first electrical terminal and a second portion with at least one second electrical terminal. The first portion and the second portion comprise at least one recessed area within the socket body. The at least one first terminal is operatively connected to the first card. The at least one second terminal, located a predetermined distance from the at least one first terminal, is operatively connected to the second card.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 10-2004-0062471, filed on Aug. 9, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly, to a card-loading socket and mobile communication terminal using the same for loading memory devices in a space efficient manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Discussion of the Related Art

Recently, technological developments of mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the like, provide character information, image information, games and the like for a user in addition to communicating voice information. More recently, a mobile communication terminal is provided with audio playback functionality for playing audio files, such as MP3 files and the like, and a digital camera function for capturing digital photos and videos. Hence, the scope of usage of the mobile communication terminal is expanding to become a necessity of life.

Furthermore, this expansion has resulted in a smart card that may be integrated into or detachably connected to a mobile communication terminal to functionally converge use of the smart card and the mobile communication terminal so as to eliminate the need for a separate, plastic smart card.

Referring toFIG. 1, a related art commerce-phone1illustrates integration of a smart cart and a mobile communication terminal. As shown, a smart card3is loaded in a card-loading socket2disposed on a rear side of a body1of a mobile communication terminal. The smart card stores user authentication information such as credit card particulars, passbook information, and the like; thus, the commerce-phone may transact business having financial associations and act as an electronic passbook for transactions, such as account inquiries, money wiring, cash-outs, check inquiries and the like. Moreover, the commerce phone may provide additional functionality such as acting as a transportation or credit card. Moreover, by applying a communication module, such as an infrared data transmission sensor and module to the commerce-phone, a smart card payment may be performed via a wireless communication link.

The integration of the smart card and mobile communication terminal allows the smart card to act as a subscriber identity module to provide a roaming service for the mobile communication terminal. Smart cards come in many varieties. Some examples of a smart card include a SIM (subscriber identity module) card, USIM (universal subscriber identity module) card, UIM (user identity module) card, RUIM (removable user identity module) card, etc.

With increased functionality, the mobile communication terminal requires increase storage capacity. For instance, in case of a mobile phone provided with a digital camera that stores images and/or provides MP3 player functionality, mobile phones need additional memory capacity to the intrinsic storage capacity to store photograph data and MP3 files.

Yet, if a high capacity memory is built into a body of a mobile communication terminal to store a high volume of data, the price of the terminal is increased. However, a terminal without this increased memory capacity would provide little use to a user with an increased functionality mobile terminal.

Instead of providing a built-in, high-capacity memory in a mobile communication terminal7, a memory card-loading socket4, as shown inFIG. 1, is separately provided to a body1of the related art mobile communication terminal7. Hence, a memory card5may be detachably attached according to a user's requirements.

There are various types of memory cards. One type of memory card employs flash memory. For instance, some examples of flash memory cards include a secure digital (SD) card, memory stick (MS) card, smart media card (SMC), compact flash card (CFC), multimedia card (MMC), etc.

In accordance with expanding and diversifying functions of the related art mobile communication terminal, a smart card-loading socket may be provided for attachment/detachment of various smart cards. In addition, a memory card-loading socket may be provided for attachment/detachment of a memory card. In these related art mobile terminals, a user loads a card fit for a specific purpose in the corresponding card-loading socket.

If two separate card-loading sockets, e.g. a smart card socket and a memory card socket are provided to one mobile communication terminal, this design configuration may produce a non-compact, and non-miniaturized mobile communication terminal. Furthermore, having two separate card-loading sockets may increase the manufacturing cost for terminal production.

Furthermore, if the related art terminal only provides one socket, only one of the smart card or the memory card may be loaded. Thus, the functionality of the terminal may suffer if it is required that both the smart card and memory card be simultaneously loaded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a card-loading socket and mobile communication terminal using the same that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a card-loading socket for a mobile communication terminal in which multiple cards, preferably one of a memory card and a smart card, e.g., SIM card, are detachably attached within a socket to minimize the occupied space.

In one embodiment, a mobile communication terminal is disclosed with a card-loading socket for loading a first card and a second card. The mobile communication terminal comprises a socket body disposed in a housing of the mobile communication terminal comprising a first portion with at least one first electrical terminal and a second portion with at least one second electrical terminal. The first portion and the second portion comprise at least one recessed area within the socket body.

Preferably, the at least one first terminal is operatively connected to the first card.

Preferably, the at least one second terminal, is located a predetermined distance from the at least one first terminal, is operatively connected to the second memory card.

In a second embodiment, a mobile communication terminal receives a first card and a second card. The mobile communication terminal comprises a housing and a first loading portion disposed on a surface of the housing to detachably receive the first card. Preferably, a second loading portion is disposed on the surface of the housing in parallel to the first loading portion to detachably receive the second card. A main board, in alternative embodiment, may be provided within the housing.

The card-loading socket preferably comprises a first terminal exposed to the first loading portion to contact the first card. A second terminal may also be provided that is arranged parallel to the first terminal to detachably receive the second loading portion and to contact the second card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 2 through 4Billustrate configurations of a mobile communication terminal and a card-loading socket provided to the mobile communication terminal in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 2, a mobile communication terminal includes a housing10and a battery pack20detachably connects to the housing10. In this preferred embodiment, the battery pack20detachably connects to one side of the housing, e.g., a rear side of the housing10. The housing10may be provided with the following features, not show in the drawings including: a speaker, a microphone, a signal input/output unit, which may include various keys, buttons and a display, a camera module and the like.

Referring toFIG. 3, a main board15which may be electrically connected to a signal input/output unit and a display, not shown, is provided within the housing10. The main board15may further be provided with the following features, not shown in the drawings, including: a control unit, a built-in memory, a mobile communication signal processing unit and the like. The mobile communication signal-processing unit may include a transmission signal-processing unit to transmit a signal or information inputted via the input/output unit or information stored in the built-in memory. In addition, the mobile communication signal processing unit may include a reception signal processing unit, not shown in the drawings, to receive and process a radio signal.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4B, a card-loading socket100is preferably mounted on the main board15. A smart card300and an external memory card200(referred to hereinafter as memory) may be both detachably received in the card-loading socket100. In one embodiment of the present invention, the card-loading socket100is mounted on the main board15and the housing10enables the smart card300and the memory card200to be received by the card-loading socket100to reduce space required for a mobile terminal.

The card-loading socket100is further provided with a first terminal110and a second terminal120to contact and secure the smart card300and the memory card200. A socket body101, disposed on the card-loading socket, houses and supports the first terminal110and the second terminal120. The socket body101, in one preferred embodiment, mounts on the main board15. The first terminal110extends from a first surface of the socket body101, e.g., a lower surface of the socket body101. The second terminal120extends from the first surface of the socket body101, e.g., an upper surface of the socket body101.

In one preferred embodiment, the first terminal110and the second terminal120are disposed so that a predetermined distance separates them. In one alternative of this preferred embodiment, the first and second terminals110and120, as shown inFIG. 3, are arranged parallel to each other. Each of the first terminal110and the second terminal120are exposed to an outer surface of the housing10, e.g., the rear side of the housing10to which the battery pack20is attached.

The smart card300is loaded as a subscriber identity module on the housing10. For example, the smart card300may be a SIM (subscriber identity module) card, USIM (universal subscriber identity module) card, UIM (user identity module) card, RUIM (removable user identity module) card, or etc., manufactured to communicate signals using a digital standard. In addition, the size of the smart card300and the number and positions of contact terminals310, which are arranged on a surface of the smart card30, may be disposed so as to match a digital standard. Furthermore, the number and positions of the first terminals110contacting with the contact terminals310of the smart card300may be formed according to the standard specification determined by various companies and specification providers.

The memory card200, for example, may be any of the following: a flash memory which fits into a secure digital (SD) card, a memory stick (MS) card, a smart media card (SMC), a compact flash card (CFC), a multimedia card (MMG), or the like. Preferably, different sockets may be provided depending on the type of memory card being used. A size of the memory card200and the number and positions of the contact terminals220of the memory card200may differ depending on the need.

In one preferred embodiment, the first terminal110may be provided according to one telecommunication standard. The second terminal120may be provided at a differing position and/or number of connection ports from the first terminal110, in accordance with the standard of a selected memory card200. Preferably, one standard memory card200is selected and inserted into the card-loading socket100designed to receive such selected standard memory card200.

Referring toFIG. 3, in the first embodiment, a width and a length of the socket body101is similar to that of the smart card300. In this preferred embodiment, the memory card200that is smaller in size than the smart card300is preferentially loaded in the socket body101. The smart card300is loaded into the socket body101to support and to secure the memory card200. The first terminal110contacts the contact terminal310of the smart card300. The second terminal120, proximally located to the first terminal110, contacts the contact terminal220of the memory card200.

To load the smart card300and memory card200on the card-loading socket100, the housing10is provided with a first loading portion and a second loading portion. The first and second loading portions are configured so that the smart card300insets into the socket body101to secure the memory card200inserted into the socket body101. This configuration is explained in detail with reference toFIG. 2,FIG. 3AandFIG. 3B.

Referring again toFIG. 2, the first loading portion, in which the smart card300is inserted, is disposed on one surface of the housing10, e.g., a rear surface of the housing10to which, for example, a battery pack20is attached. The first loading portion includes a recess, e.g., a first loading recess11, disposed within a rear surface of the housing10. In one preferred embodiment, the first loading recess11has a similar shape as that of the smart card300. More preferably, a width and length of the first loading recess11are formed slightly greater than those of the smart card300. In another preferred embodiment, a depth of the first loading recess11is equal to or greater than a thickness of the smart card300.

The first terminal110of the card-loading socket100is exposed to the first loading recess11. In particular, the first terminal110, as shown inFIG. 2, penetrates a bottom of the first loading recess11, e.g., an upper concave recess, that is exposed outside the housing10. A first terminal110, as shown inFIG. 4A, extends through a hole10ain the housing10. Once the smart card300is detachably received within the first loading recess11, the contact terminal310of the smart card300contacts the first terminal110of the card-loading socket100to electrically connect the smart card300to the main board15.

The second loading portion for inserting the memory card200is preferably provided next to the first loading portion and communicates with the first loading portion. The second loading portion includes a recess, e.g., a second loading recess12. In one alternative embodiment, the second loading portion, as shown inFIG. 4B, is an opening10c. The second loading recess12is, in this example, a lower concave recess disposed within the first loading portion, e.g., at a bottom of the first loading recess11.

The second loading recess12has a similar shape as that of the memory card200. Preferably, a width and length of the second loading recess12are equal to or slightly greater than those corresponding dimensions of the memory card200. In one preferred embodiment, a depth of the second loading recess, e.g., depth of the second loading recess12, is equal to or greater than a thickness of the memory card200. In yet another preferred embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2, a width of the second loading recess12is equal to that of the first loading recess11. In yet another embodiment, the width of the second loading recess12may be less than or greater than those dimensions of the first loading recess11in accordance with a size of the memory card200.

Furthermore, the second terminal120of the card-loading socket100may be exposed to the above-configured second loading portion, i.e., the second loading recess12. In one embodiment, the second terminal120penetrates a bottom of the second loading recess12to be exposed outside the housing10. In this instance, a hole10b, as shown inFIG. 4A, is provided to the housing10for passing through the second terminal120. Hence, once the memory card200is fitted in the second loading portion, i.e., the second loading recess12, the contact terminal220of the memory card200contacts the second terminal120of the card-loading socket100to electrically connect the memory card200to the main board15.

Referring toFIG. 4B, the second loading portion includes the opening10c. The opening10chas a similar location and shape, as does the second loading recess12described above in reference to the discussion ofFIG. 2andFIG. 4A. The opening10cforms in the exemplary embodiment the second loading portion to perforate the housing10. Consequently, the opening10cprovides access to the first loading recess11located inside of the housing10within the main board15. The memory card200is received with the opening10c. The second terminal120provides an elastic restorative force to press, in this example upward, to support the memory card200. Because the smart card300supports and secures the memory card200, the memory card200remains within the second loading portion. In one alternative of this embodiment, so as to prevent the second loading portion from entering the housing10via a bottom of the opening10c, a protrusion, not shown in the drawing, is provided. The protrusion protrudes from inside of the housing10proximal to the opening10cto support a portion of a lower circumference of the memory card200.

In one embodiment, the first and second loading portions are provided to one side of the housing10, e.g., a rear surface of the housing10, and the battery pack20attaches to the rear surface of the housing10. Consequently, the battery pack20is attached to the housing10when the smart card300and the memory card200are inserted into the first and second loading portions, respectively. The battery pack20, in this embodiment, secures, and more preferably covers, the smart card300. The smart card secures, and more preferably covers, the memory card200. In other words, the smart card300and the memory card200are sandwiched between the battery pack20and the housing10.

In one alternative of this embodiment, fixing members13and14, as shown inFIG. 2, may be utilized to further maintain contact between the smart card300, the memory card200, the housing10and the battery pack20. The fixing members13,14extend over the first loading recess11. The fixing members13,14press on an upper surface of the smart card300within the first loading recess11. The fixing members13,14include a bar arranged to traverse the first loading recess11.

Preferably, the fixing members13,14traverse along a width of the first loading recess11rather than a length-wise direction to facilitate insertion of the smart card300. The fixing members13,14are preferably disposed with a predetermined distance in-between, along a length-wise direction of the first loading recess11. The fixing member14traverses the second loading portion. In one alternative of this embodiment, the fixing members13and14may be constructed of various shapes. The fixing members13,14may include protrusions protruding from an upper part of the first loading recess11along a width of the first loading recess11. The protrusions press both edges of the smart card to secure the smart card300.

After the fixing members13,14are attached, the smart card300and the memory card200detachably insert, for example by sliding, into the first and second loading portions, respectively with the housing10. In this preferred embodiment, the smart card300is detachably received within an upper wall of the loading recess11. The memory card200is detachably received within the second loading recess12or, in the alternative, to an opening10c, which may be rounded or tilted. Thus, the first and second loading portions allows both the smart card300and the memory card200to be loaded into the card-loading socket100so as to occupy a minimal amount of space. Once the memory card200inserts into the second loading recess12or, in an alternative embodiment, an opening10c, an upper surface of the memory card200lies in the same plane as the bottom surface of the first loading recess11. Subsequently, the smart card300is attached within the first loading recess11.

As shown inFIGS. 3 to 4B, the smart card300covers the memory card200. In this case, the width of the second loading recess12or opening10has the memory card200fitted therein. The second loading recess12, in this exemplary example, is greater than that of the first loading recess11so that the smart card300partially covers the memory card200. In another exemplary example, if the width of the second loading recess12or opening10cis less than or equal to that of the first loading recess11, the smart card300completely covers the memory card200.

While the smart card300is inserted into the first loading recess11, the smart card300covers at least partially a portion of the memory card. In this same example, a battery pack20, as shown inFIG. 2, is attached to the rear surface of the housing10. A battery pack20further pushes against the smart card300and the smart card300presses against the memory card200; therefore, the battery pack secures the smart card3000and the memory card200within the first loading recess11and the second loading recess12or opening10c, respectively. In one alternative embodiment, the fixing members13,14secure the smart card300and the memory card200. In this instance, the battery pack20covers the smart300rather than pressing down on the smart card300. Thus, the fixing members13,14add stability and robustness to further secure the smart card300and the memory card200.

In the above description, the example of loading both of the memory and smart cards200and300on the card-loading socket100is explained. Alternatively, the card-loading socket100may detachably receive one of the memory card200and the smart card300. In this example, the smart card300is received within the first loading recess11while the second loading recess12or opening10cis empty. Because an area of a bottom surface of the first loading recess11is large enough to support the smart card300, the smart card300may be received within the first loading recess11. The smart card300may be loaded after a plate member, which in this exemplary example, has the same shape as that of the memory card200disposed in the second loading recess12or, in the alternative, opening10c.

Once the memory card200is disposed in the second loading recess12or opening10c, the upper surface of the memory card200lies in the same plane of the bottom surface of the first loading recess11. Consequently, it may be difficult to load the memory card200on the second loading recess12or opening10c. A plate member that has the same shape as that of the smart card300detachably inserts into the first loading recess11, the memory card200is secured within the card-loading socket100.

FIGS. 5-7illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention for a card-loading socket500. In this second embodiment, the card-loading slot is configured similar to the structure disclosed inFIGS. 2 to 4B.

The attachment structure of memory card600and smart card700differ from those of the first embodiment in that the card-loading sockets are arranged separate from each other. In this embodiment, the memory card600and the smart card700are parallel to each other for loading into the card-loading socket and in particular the socket body701. First and second terminals710,720of the card-loading socket400are distally located from one another. A first loading recess711is proximally located to the first terminal710. A second loading portion, i.e., a second recess612, is proximally located to the second terminal720. The first and second terminals710,720are arranged parallel to each other along one side of the housing510, e.g., a rear surface of the housing510, for attachment to the battery pack520.

In this preferred embodiment, the first and second terminals710,720are located with a sufficient distance between them to prevent overlap of the smart card700and the memory card600. Thus, the first and second loading recesses711,612are arranged in parallel to each another.

A depth of the first loading recess711is preferably equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the smart card700. A depth of the second loading recess612preferably equal to or slightly greater than thickness of the memory card600. The battery pack720attaches to one side, e.g., a rear surface of the housing510, to support the smart card700detachably received within the first loading recess711. The memory card600is fitted in the second loading portion, i.e., the second loading recess612.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, fixing members713,614, as shown inFIG. 7, may be provided. The fixing members713,614are provided over the first loading recess711and the second loading recess612to support and/or to secure the smart card700and the memory card600, respectively. The fixing members713,614include bars traversing over the first loading portion, i.e., the first loading recess711. Further as shown, the bars may traverse over the second loading portion, i.e., the second loading recess612along a width direction. In one alternative embodiment, the fixing members713,614may include protrusions, not shown in the figures, extending from upper parts of the first and second loading recesses711,612along a width direction.

Accordingly, the present invention may load various types of cards including memory, e.g., a smart and/or a memory card, in the card-loading socket. Thus, a user may detachably insert specific cards. In addition, the card-loading socket has a very simple configuration, which occupies a very small space and may be manufactured for a low product cost. The first loading portion has the smart card inserted within the first recess. The second loading portion has the memory card inserted in the second recess or opening. Hence, the first and second loading portions are configured for ease of manufacturability and low cost.

In contrast to the first embodiment, the second loading portion having the memory card fitted therein is arranged beneath the first loading portion fitted with the smart card fitted therein. The smart card is loaded on the card-loading socket while covering the memory card. Therefore, both the smart and memory cards may be detachably inserted in the card-loading socket to occupy a minimal space.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided these modifications come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.