Abstract:
A wireless communication device includes a housing including a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a left side, and a right side, and a printed circuit board carried by the housing and carrying electronics for operation of the wireless communication device. The printed circuit board defines a plane, and a socket is disposed in the housing and connected to the circuit board. The socket is configured to allow substantially perpendicular receipt of a removable memory device relative to the plane defined by the printed circuit board, in a manner such that the socket defines a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the printed circuit board.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates, in general, to handheld electronic devices utilizing a removable memory device, and, in particular, to handheld wireless communication devices utilizing a removable memory device. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Handheld electronic devices such as wireless communication devices (e.g., cellular handsets) hold most of the device electronics on a printed circuit board (PCB). A constant need exists to reduce the size of the electronics and other PCB elements and to reduce the size of the PCB in an effort to make the handheld electronic devices smaller and more convenient to use. A problem with utilizing an external removable memory device with handheld electronic devices is that the socket that receives the external memory device takes up a large amount of space, making the handheld electronic device larger than desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An aspect of the present invention involves the use of a small profile component socket that allows substantially perpendicular insertion of the removable memory device relative to the PCB of the handheld electronic device. The small profile component socket allows the width and/or length of the PCB to be smaller and/or accommodate additional electronics/elements. This arrangement results in a smaller, more-compact handheld electronic device. 
   An additional aspect of the invention involves a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device includes a housing having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a left side, and a right side, and a printed circuit board carried by the housing and carrying electronics for operation of the wireless communication device. The printed circuit board defines a plane, and a socket is disposed in the housing and connected to the circuit board. The socket is configured to allow substantially perpendicular receipt of a removable memory device relative to the plane defined by the printed circuit board, in a manner such that the socket defines a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the printed circuit board. 
   Another aspect of the invention involves a method of using a removable memory device with a wireless communication device. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified top plan view of a wireless communication device according to one embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified top plan view of a wireless communication device according to another embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  is a simplified right side-elevational view of an embodiment of a socket mounting option on a PCB. 
       FIG. 4  is a simplified right side-elevational view of another embodiment of a socket mounting option on a PCB. 
       FIG. 5  is a simplified top plan view of an embodiment of a socket-to-PCB connection. 
       FIG. 6  is a simplified top plan view of another embodiment of a socket-to-PCB connection. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for a wireless communication device and method of use including a small profile component socket that allows substantially perpendicular insertion of a removable memory device relative to a PCB of the wireless communication device. 
   After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     FIG. 1  is a simplified top plan view of an embodiment of wireless communication device  10  including multiple small profile component sockets  20  that allow substantially perpendicular insertion of removable memory device  30  relative to PCB structure  40  of wireless communication device  10 . 
   Wireless communication device  10  includes first housing member  50  having display  60  and input keys  70 . Second housing member  80  includes PCB  40  and sockets  20 . Second housing member  80  also includes keypad  90  with keys  100  in front  150  for entering phone numbers (and possibly other information). Wireless communication device  10  includes top  110 , bottom  120 , left side  130 , right side  140 , front  150 , and rear (not shown). In the embodiment shown, first housing member  50  is slidable relative to second housing member  80  between a first position where first housing member  50  is in front of second housing member  80 , protecting sockets  20  and removable memory device  30 , and a second position where first housing member  50  and second housing member  80  are in the positions shown in  FIG. 1  for normal operation of wireless communication device  10 . Although not shown, in one or more embodiments, pivotal door(s) cover and protect socket(s)  20 . 
   In alternative embodiments, wireless communication device  10  has different configurations such as, but not by way of limitation, a clam-shell configuration where first housing member  50  is pivotal relative to second housing member  80  and a candy-bar configuration where first housing member  50  is fixed relative to second housing member  80  (or first housing member  50  is integrated with second housing member  80  to form a single integrated housing member). 
   In further embodiments, device  10  is a handheld electronic device other than wireless communication device such as, but not limited to, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or other handheld computer. 
   PCB  40  carries electronics of wireless communication device  10  for operation of wireless communication device  10 , and includes top  210 , bottom  220 , left side (not shown), right side  240 , front  250 , and rear  260 . In alternative embodiments, the PCB  40  includes one or more a coprocessor, camera interface electronics, infrared communications, and hardware/software for performing a variety of functions. 
   Removable memory device  30  includes top  310 , bottom  320 , left side  330 , right side  340 , front  350 , rear  360 , length L, width W, and thickness T. An example removable memory device includes, but not by way of limitation, T-flash removable media. However, in alternative embodiments, other types of removable media are used. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , small profile sockets  20  are substantially perpendicularly disposed relative to PCB  40 , allowing substantially perpendicular insertion of removable memory device  30  relative to PCB  40  of wireless communication device  10  (removable memory device  30  is inserted into and removed out of front  150  of wireless communication device  10 , i.e., front insertion/removal). In an alternative embodiment, one or more small profile sockets  20  are on rear of wireless communication device  10  (removable memory device  30  is inserted into and removed out of rear of wireless communication device  10 , i.e., rear insertion/removal). 
   As used herein, “perpendicular” means that plane P 1  defined by removable memory device  30  (and socket  20 ) as shown in  FIG. 3  and plane P 2  defined by removable PCB  40  are disposed at an angle α equal to 90 degrees (α=90°). As used herein, “substantially perpendicular” means that plane P 1  defined by removable memory device  30  (and socket  20 ) and plane P 2  defined by removable PCB  40  are disposed at an angle α greater than 45 degrees and less than or equal to 90 degrees (45°&lt;α≦90°). 
   When removable memory device  30  is fully disposed in socket  20 , removable memory device  30  is substantially perpendicularly disposed relative to PCB  40 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The leading face upon insertion (e.g., bottom  320 ) of the removable memory device  30  has a small/smallest area (e.g., narrow/narrowest width and/or short/shortest length) of all the faces (e.g., front  350 , rear  360 , etc.) and is substantially parallel with PCB  40 . 
   Socket(s)  20  include springs and mechanical locking/unlocking mechanisms (not shown) to retain removable memory device(s)  30  in a fully inserted locked position, substantially perpendicular to PCB  40  as shown in  FIGS. 3  and/or  4 , and to unlock/deploy removable memory device(s)  30  from socket(s)  20 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 2 , in an alternative embodiment, sockets  20  are open to one of more of left side  130 , right side  140 , bottom  120 , and top  110  to allow removable memory device  30  to be inserted laterally or vertically (left and right, up and down) into and out of left side  130 , right side  140 , bottom  120 , and/or top  110  of wireless communication device  10  in the direction shown by the arrows (i.e., side/end insertion/removal). In this embodiment, small profile component sockets  20  are also substantially perpendicularly disposed relative to PCB  40  and allow substantially perpendicular insertion of removable memory device  30  relative to PCB  40  of wireless communication device  10 . Similar to the embodiment of sockets  20  described above with respect to  FIG. 1 , socket(s)  20  of  FIG. 2  include springs and mechanical locking/unlocking mechanisms to retain removable memory device(s)  30  in a fully inserted locked position, substantially perpendicular to PCB  40  as shown in  FIGS. 3  and/or  4 , and to unlock/deploy removable memory device(s)  30  from socket(s)  20 . Although the sockets  20  illustrated in  FIG. 2  are shown as being open at front  150 , in an alternative embodiment, socket(s)  20  are not open at front  150 . In the fully inserted position, the face of the removable memory device  30  opposing PCB  40  (e.g., bottom  320 ) has a small/smallest area (e.g., narrow/narrowest width and/or short/shortest length) of all the faces (e.g., front  350 , rear  360 , etc.) and is substantially parallel with PCB  40 . 
   Although four sockets  20  are shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in alternative embodiments, one, two, three, or other numbers of sockets  20  are used. In further embodiments, wireless communication device  10  includes a combination of socket types and/or locations described herein. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , an embodiment of a socket and PCB connection assembly  400  that allows for a reduction in the length and/or width of PCB  40  will be described. Assembly  400  is a front-mounted connection assembly in which socket  20  is mounted on front  250  of PCB  40 . In this embodiment, connections  410  for socket  20  are on front  250  of PCB  40 . Assembly  400  includes electrical connections  420  and electrical connection paths  430  for electrically communicating socket  20  and removable memory device  30  with PCB  40 . Assembly  400  includes mechanical connections  440  for mechanically connecting socket  20  to PCB  40 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , an embodiment of a socket and PCB connection assembly  500  that has a thinner profile (socket and PCB connection assembly  500  has a thickness that is a distance X thinner than socket and PCB connection assembly  400  of  FIG. 3 ) and allows for a reduction in the length and/or width of PCB  40  will be described. Assembly  500  is mounted through PCB  40  with connections  510  for socket  20  on rear  260  (for front-loading) or front  250  (for rear-loading) of the PCB  40 . Assembly  500  includes electrical connections  520  and electrical connection paths  530  for electrically communicating socket  20  and removable memory device  30  with PCB  40 . Assembly  500  includes mechanical connections  540  for mechanically connecting socket  20  to PCB  40  and hole  550  for socket insertion within PCB  40 . Thus, assembly  500  allows a thinner profile and allows for a reduction in length L and/or width W of PCB  40 . As a result, wireless communication device  10  has a thinner profile and a smaller length and/or width than was available in the past where removable memory devices were used with wireless communication devices. 
   The wireless communication device  10  will now be described in use. With reference to  FIG. 1 , in this embodiment of wireless communication device  10  and socket(s)  20 , front insertion/removal of memory device(s)  30  occurs. To add removable memory device(s)  30 , removable memory device(s)  30  are inserted into socket(s)  20 , through front  150  of wireless communication device  10 , to a fully inserted, locked position. The mechanical locking/unlocking mechanism of each socket  20  retains removable memory device  30  in a fully inserted locked position, substantially perpendicular to PCB  40  as shown in  FIGS. 3  and/or  4 . To remove each memory device  30 , the mechanical locking/unlocking mechanism of socket  20  is actuated, causing the spring(s) to at least partially deploy removable memory device  30  from socket  20 . With the removable memory device  30  partially deployed out of socket  20 , the removable memory device  30  is engaged by the fingers of a user and removed from wireless communication device  10  by pulling away from front  150  of wireless communication device  10 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 2 , in this embodiment of wireless communication device  10  and socket(s)  20 , side/bottom insertion and removal of memory devices  30  occurs. To add removable memory devices  30 , removable memory devices  30  are inserted into sockets  20 , through left side  130 , right side  140  and bottom  30 , to a fully inserted, locked position. In an alternative embodiment, wireless communication device  10  includes one or more sockets  20  adjacent top  110  so that memory device  30  is insertable/removable through top  110 . The mechanical locking/unlocking mechanism of each socket  20  retains removable memory device  30  in a fully inserted locked position, substantially perpendicular to PCB  40  as shown in  FIGS. 3  and/or  4 . To remove each memory device  30 , the mechanical locking/unlocking mechanism of socket  20  is actuated, causing the spring(s) to at least partially deploy removable memory device  30  from socket  20 . With the removable memory device  30  partially deployed out of socket  20 , the removable memory device  30  is engaged by the fingers of a user and removed from wireless communication device  10  by pulling to the left/right, down, depending on the location of socket  20 , relative to wireless communication device  10 . 
   Orienting socket(s)  20  and removable memory device(s)  30  substantially perpendicularly relative to PCB  40  allows for a reduction in length L and/or width W of PCB  40 , and/or allows for more room on PCB  40  for other components. The small thickness t of removable memory device  30  takes up a small amount of length L and/or width W of PCB  40 , allowing PCB  40  to have a smaller length L and/or width W. As a result, wireless communication device  10  has a smaller length and/or width than was available in the past where removable memory devices were used with wireless communication devices. Having socket(s)  20  extend into PCB  40 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , allows wireless communication device  10  to have a thinner profile. Socket(s)  20  that allow front insertion of the removable memory device(s)  30 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , are mechanically safer sockets because the closing of first housing member  50  on second housing member  80 , when wireless communication device  10  is not in use, protects socket(s)  20  and/or removable memory device(s)  30 . 
   The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and are therefore representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims.