Patent Publication Number: US-2002002643-A1

Title: Portable information terminal, recording medium, and program

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a portable information terminal which the user can hold and play by hand and which can also be used as an auxiliary memory device for use with information apparatus, a recording medium storing programs and data to be downloaded into such a portable information terminal, and a program itself.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] Slave units such as memory cards for insertion into master units such as information apparatus, e.g., entertainment apparatus including video game machines, comprise an interface for connection to the master unit and a nonvolatile memory device for storing data.  
       [0005]FIG. 32 of the accompanying drawings shows an arrangement of major components of a conventional memory-card  1000 . As shown in FIG. 32, the memory card  1000  comprises a control means  1002  for controlling operation of the memory card  1000 , a connector  1004  for connection to a terminal in a slot in the information apparatus, and a nonvolatile memory  1006  for storing data. The connector  1004  and the nonvolatile memory  1006  are connected to the control means  1002 .  
       [0006] The control means  1002  comprises a microcomputer, for example. The nonvolatile memory  1006  comprises a flash memory, an EEPROM, or the like. The memory card  1000  also includes an interface for connection to the information apparatus or the like, and the interface may comprise a microcomputer as a control means for interpreting a protocol.  
       [0007]FIG. 33 of the accompanying drawings shows control items in the control means  1002  of the conventional memory card  1000 .  
       [0008] As shown in FIG. 33, the conventional memory card  1000  only has an apparatus connection interface for connection to the information apparatus and a memory interface for storing data into and reading data from the nonvolatile memory  1006 .  
       [0009] Conventional entertainment apparatus which allow users to enjoy home TV games have a function to store programs and data into auxiliary memory devices. The above memory card is also used as an auxiliary memory device for such entertainment apparatus.  
       [0010]FIG. 34 of the accompanying drawings shows a conventional entertainment apparatus  1010  which uses a memory card as an auxiliary memory device. As shown in FIG. 34, the entertainment apparatus  1010  has a housing  1012  essentially in the shape of a flat rectangular parallelepiped, which has a disk loading unit  1014  disposed centrally therein for loading an optical disk as a recording medium storing an application program, a reset switch  1016  for resetting a program which is being executed at present, a power supply switch  1018 , a disk control switch  1020  for controlling the loading of the optical disk, and two slots  1022 A,  1022 B, for example.  
       [0011] The memory card  1000  for use as an auxiliary memory device is inserted into either one of the slots  1022 A,  1022 B. A result produced when a program is executed on the entertainment apparatus  1010  is transmitted from the control means (CPU)  1024  of the entertainment apparatus  1010 , and written in the nonvolatile memory  1006 . A plurality of manual controllers, not shown, may be connected respectively to the slots  1022 A,  1022 B to allow a plurality of users to play a competition game simultaneously  
       [0012] It has been proposed to give a function to execute a program such as a game program to the slave unit connected to the entertainment apparatus serving as the master unit via one of the memory card slots. The slave unit with such a function can also be used as a portable information terminal, and will find a wide range of applications by facilitating communications between itself and other devices, resulting in new demands for such portable information terminals.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable information terminal that can be used as a portable game machine and is capable of generating character information according to the Morse code, for example, and performing communications based on such character information, and a recording medium storing programs and data to be downloaded into such a portable information terminal.  
       [0014] A portable information terminal according to the present invention comprises a housing having input means for entering an input, control means for executing a program, and display means for displaying a generated image, and character converting and displaying means operable on the control means for converting an unequal-length code inputted via the input means into character information and displaying the character information on the display means.  
       [0015] According to the present invention, there is also provided a recording medium storing a program and data for use in a portable information terminal having input means for entering an input, control means for executing a program, and display means for displaying a generated image, the program being operable on the control means and comprising the steps of converting an unequal-length code inputted via the input means into character information, and displaying the character information on the display means.  
       [0016] According to the present invention, there is further provided a program readable and executable by a computer, for use in having input means for entering an input, control means for executing a program, and display means for displaying a generated image, the program being operable on the control means and comprising the steps of converting an unequal-length code inputted via the input means into character Information, and displaying the character information on the display means.  
       [0017] With the above arrangement, an unequal-length code, i.e., a code wherein a combination of dots and dashes differs from character to character, e g., a Morse code, entered via the input means is converted into character information, which is displayed on the display means. The portable information terminal allows the user to generate characters with Morse codes.  
       [0018] The housing may have light-emitting means for emitting light in-response to a light-emitting signal, and the portable able information terminal or the program may further comprise light-emitting signal generating means operable on the control means for, or the steps of, generating a light-emitting signal in synchronism with the inputting of the unequal-length code and outputting the generated light-emitting signal to the light-emitting means.  
       [0019] In response to the inputting of the unequal-length code, the light-emitting means emits light. The user can recognize the relationship between a Morse code and a character based on a visual sensation such as of light emission as well as the inputting of the Morse code. The emission of light is effective to assist the user in memorizing Morse codes, for example.  
       [0020] The portable information terminal or the program may further comprise code converting means operable on the control means for, or the step of, converting character information inputted via the input means into an unequal-length code.  
       [0021] Since the inputted character information is converted into a corresponding unequal-length code, the portable information terminal is suitable for use in communications with external devices using Morse codes.  
       [0022] The housing may have light-emitting means for emitting light in response to a light-emitting signal, and the portable information terminal or the program may further comprise light-emitting signal generating means operable on the control means for, or the step of, generating a light-emitting signal based on the converted unequal-length code and outputting the generated light-emitting signal to the light-emitting means.  
       [0023] Because the light-emitting means emits light depending on a converted Morse code corresponding to inputted character information, the portable information terminal makes it possible to perform optical communications using Morse codes.  
       [0024] The housing may have communication means for exchanging information with an external device, and the portable information terminal or the program may further comprise information transmitting means operable on the control means for, or the step of, transmitting the character information via the communication means to the external device, or information receiving means operable on the control means for, or the steps of, receiving the character information via the communication means from the external device, and displaying the received character information on the display means.  
       [0025] The portable information terminal is capable of performing sending and receiving character information through both optical communications using Morse codes and wireless communications in a radio frequency range (RF range) and an infrared range (IR range). The user finds it interesting to use the portable information terminal because it can simulate communications using Morse codes. 
     
    
    
     [0026] The above and other objects, features, and advantage of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0027]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an entertainment system to which a portable information terminal according to the present invention is connected;  
     [0028]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the portable information terminal according to the present invention;  
     [0029]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable information terminal according to the present invention;  
     [0030]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable information terminal with a lid being open;  
     [0031]FIG. 5 Is a front elevational view of the portable information terminal with the lid open;  
     [0032]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a circuit arrangement of an entertainment apparatus:  
     [0033]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a circuit arrangement of the portable information terminal according to the present invention;  
     [0034]FIG. 8A is a plan view of the portable information terminal with a displayed image in a study mode;  
     [0035]FIG. 8B is a plan view of the portable information terminal with a list of characters displayed on a display unit thereof;  
     [0036]FIG. 9A is a plan view of the portable information terminal with an error image displayed when there is no character information corresponding to a sign inputted by the user;  
     [0037]FIG. 9B is a plan view of the portable information terminal with an error image displayed when character information corresponding to a sign inputted by the user and reference character information do not match each other;  
     [0038]FIG. 9C is a plan view of the portable information terminal with an Image displayed when character information corresponding to a sign inputted by the user and reference character information match each other;  
     [0039]FIG. 10 is a plan view of the portable information terminal with an image displayed in a practice mode;  
     [0040]FIG. 11 is a plan view of the portable information terminal with an image displayed in a self-teaching mode;  
     [0041]FIG. 12 is a plan view showing two portable information terminals which are sanding and receiving data in a conversation mode;  
     [0042]FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of a terminal information processing means that operates on a CPU of the portable information terminal;  
     [0043]FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of a study mode processing means;  
     [0044]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing details of an information table;  
     [0045]FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of an input processing means;  
     [0046]FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram of a character converting means;  
     [0047]FIGS. 18 and 19 show a flowchart of a processing sequence of the study mode processing means;  
     [0048]FIGS. 20 and 21 show a flowchart of a processing sequence of the character converting means;  
     [0049]FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram of a practice mode processing means;  
     [0050]FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of the practice mode processing means;  
     [0051]FIG. 24 is a functional block diagram of a self-teaching mode processing means;  
     [0052]FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of the self-teaching mode processing means;  
     [0053]FIG. 26 is a functional block diagram of a first conversation mode processing means;  
     [0054]FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of a transmitter of the first conversation mode processing means;  
     [0055]FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of an LED processing means;  
     [0056]FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of a receiver of the first conversation mode processing means;  
     [0057]FIG. 30 is a functional block diagram of a second conversation mode processing means;  
     [0058]FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a processing sequence of a transmitter of the second conversation mode processing means;  
     [0059]FIG. 32 is a block diagram of an arrangement of major components of an ordinary memory card;  
     [0060]FIG. 33 is a diagram showing control items in a control means of the ordinary memory card; and  
     [0061]FIG. 34 is a plan view of an entertainment apparatus which uses a memory card as an auxiliary memory device. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0062] A portable information terminal according to the present invention that can be used as a portable game machine, and a recording medium and a program according to the present invention which are used respectively as a recording medium which stores a program and data executed by the portable information terminal and such a program will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 through 31.  
     [0063] As shown in FIG. 1, an entertainment system  10  includes an entertainment apparatus  32  which serves as a master unit for a portable information terminal  18 , the portable information terminal  18  detachably connected to the entertainment apparatus  32 , a manual controller  34  detachably connected to the entertainment apparatus  32  by a connector  38 , and a display monitor  36  such as a television receiver which is supplied with video and audio output signals from the entertainment apparatus  32 .  
     [0064] The entertainment apparatus  32  can read a program recorded in a mass storage medium such as an optical disk  40  such as a CD-ROM, for example, and execute a game, for example, based on the program depending on commands supplied from the user, e.g., the game player. The execution of the game mainly represents controlling the progress of the game by controlling the display of images and the generation of sounds on the display monitor  36  in response to Input signals from the manual controller  34  via the connector  38 .  
     [0065] The entertainment apparatus  32  is essentially in the shape of a flat rectangular parallelepiped, and has a disk loading unit  42  disposed centrally therein for loading an optical disk  40  storing an application program and data of a video game or the like, a reset switch  44  for resetting a program which is being executed at present, a disk control switch  46  for controlling the loading of the optical disk  40 , a power supply switch  48 , and two slots  50 ,  52 , for example.  
     [0066] The entertainment apparatus  32  may be supplied with the application program via a communication link, rather than being supplied from the optical disk  40  as the recording medium  
     [0067] The slots  50 ,  52  have respective upper slot units SOB,  52 B and respective lower slot units  50 A,  52 A. Manual controllers  34  can be connected respectively to the lower slot units  50 A,  52 A. Memory cards (not sown) capable of storing flags indicative of interim game data or portable information terminals  18  which also function as memory cards can be connected to respectively to the upper slot units  50 B,  52 B. The slots  50  ( 50 A,  50 B) and the slots  52  ( 52 A,  52 B) are of asymmetrical shapes to avoid erroneous insertion of manual controllers and memory cards or portable information terminals.  
     [0068] The manual controller  34  has first and second control pads  60 ,  62 , an L button  64 L, an R button  64 R, a start button  66 , and a selection button  68 . The manual controller  34  also has first and second joysticks  70 ,  72  for making analog control actions, a mode selection switch  74  for selecting control modes of the joysticks  70 ,  72 , and an indicator  76  for indicating a selected control mode  
     [0069] The portable information terminal  18  with a lid  80  being open is connected to the entertainment apparatus  32 . A program and data are downloaded from the entertainment apparatus  32  into the portable information terminal  18  which is connected to the entertainment apparatus  32 . In this sense, the entertainment apparatus  32  is considered to be a downloading apparatus.  
     [0070] When the portable information terminal  18  is disconnected from the entertainment apparatus  32 , stated otherwise, when the portable information terminal  18  is a stand-alone system, the portable information terminal  18  can be operated on a build-in battery to execute a program downloaded from the entertainment apparatus  32 .  
     [0071] Portable information terminals  18  can be used as inherent memory cards corresponding to a plurality of manual controllers  34  connected to the entertainment apparatus  32 . For example, if two users (game players) take part in playing a game on the entertainment system  10 , game results of the users are recorded respectively in the portable information terminals  18 .  
     [0072] As shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, the portable information terminal  18  has a housing  82  which supports a manual control pad  88  having a plurality of direction buttons  84  and a decision button  86  for entering events and making various selections, a display unit  90  comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit or the like, and a window  92  for wireless communication via infrared radiation or the like.  
     [0073] As shown In FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing  82  comprises an upper shell  82   a  and a lower shell  82   b.  The housing  82  houses a board  94  which supports a memory device, etc. thereon, as shown in FIG. 5. The housing  82  can be inserted into either one of the slots  50 ,  52  of the entertainment apparatus  32 , and has a connector  96  disposed in an end thereof and having a elongate rectangular window.  
     [0074] The window  92  is disposed on an opposite end of the housing  82  which is of a substantially semicircular shape. The display unit  90  occupies a substantially half area of the upper shell  82   a  and is positioned near the window  92 .  
     [0075] The manual control pad  88  occupies another substantially half area of the upper shell  82   a  and is positioned remotely from the window  92 . As shown in FIG. 4, the manual control pad  88  comprises a substantially square lid  80  that is angularly movably supported on the housing  82  and supports thereon one or a plurality of the direction buttons  84  and the decision button  86 , and switch pressers  98 ,  100  positioned in an area of the housing  82  which can be opened and closed by the lid  80 .  
     [0076] The direction buttons  84  and the decision button  86  extend through the lid  80 . The direction buttons  84  and the decision button  86  are supported on the lid  80  for movement into and out of the upper surface of the lid  80 . The switch pressers  98 ,  100  have respective pressing elements supported on the housing  82  for movement into and out of the upper surface of the housing  82 . When one of the pressing elements is pressed from above, it presses a corresponding pressure switch such as a diaphragm switch, for example, mounted on the board  94  in the housing  82 .  
     [0077] With the lid  80  closed, the switch pressers  98 ,  100  are held in vertical alignment with the direction buttons  84  and the decision button  86 , respectively. Therefore, while the lid  80  is being closed over the housing  82 , when the direction buttons  84  and,the decision button  86  are pressed from above into the upper surface of the lid  80 , the direction buttons  84  and the decision button  86  cause the pressing elements of the corresponding switch pressers  98 ,  100  to press corresponding pressure switches in the housing  82 .  
     [0078] As shown in FIG. 5, power and signal terminals  102  are mounted on the board  94  and disposed in the window of the connector  96 . The connector  96  has a shape and dimensions that are identical to those of ordinary memory cards for use with the entertainment apparatus  32 .  
     [0079] Circuit arrangements of the entertainment apparatus  32  and the portable information terminal  18  will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.  
     [0080] As shown in FIG. 6, the entertainment apparatus  32  comprises a control system  112  including a central processing unit (CPU)  110  and peripheral devices thereof, a graphic system  114  including a frame buffer and a graphic processing unit (GPU) for rendering image data in the frame buffer, a sound system  116  including a sound processing unit (SPU) for generating music sounds and sound effects, an optical disk controller  118  for controlling the readout of the optical disk  40  in Which application programs and data are stored, a communication controller  120  for controlling the inputting of data into and outputting of data from the manual controller  34 , the portable information terminal  18 , or the memory card (not shown), and a system bus  122  to which the control system  112 , the graphic system  114 , the sound system  116 , the optical disk controller  118 , and the communication controller  120  are connected.  
     [0081] Video and audio signals generated by and outputted from the graphic system  114  and the sound system  116  are supplied to the display monitor  36  to display images on the display screen of the display monitor  36  and reproduce sounds from the speakers of the display monitor  36   
     [0082] As shown in FIG. 7, the portable information terminal  18  has a controller  130  comprising a microcomputer or the like. The controller  130  has a CPU  132  for controlling the entire system of the portable information terminal  18  via a system bus  134 .  
     [0083] To the system bus  134 , there are connected, in addition to the CPU  132 , a serial-parallel interface (SPI)  136  for communication with the entertainment apparatus  32 , and a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter)  138  which is an interface for asynchronous data transfer.  
     [0084] To the system bus  134 , there are also connected a working memory  140  comprising an SRAM for temporarily storing data and processed results required for processing by the CPU  132 , and a data memory (data storage memory)  142  as an external storage means via a memory Interface  144 .  
     [0085] To the system bus  134 , there are also connected a ROM (OSDROM)  146  comprising a flash memory and having an OSD (On Screen Display) function, and a real-time clock (RTC)  148  having a calendar and clock function. The OSDROM  146  stores a control program such as kernel.  
     [0086] The manual control pad  88  is connected to the system bus  134  via a switch interface (SW I/F)  150  which also functions as an interrupt generating means.  
     [0087] The system bus  134  is supplied with electric energy from a battery  152 . When the portable information terminal  18  is disconnected from, i.e., independent of, the entertainment apparatus  32 , the portable information terminal  18  can execute application software stored in the data memory  142 . The contents of the data memory  142  are backed up by its nonvolatile memory capability even when the power supply of the portable information terminal  18  is turned off.  
     [0088] To the system bus  134 , there are also connected a GDC (Graphic Display Controller)  154  as an image processing means, and a DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter)  156  for converting a digital signal supplied from the system bus  134  into an analog signal. A red light-emitting diode (LED)  190 , for example, as a light-emitting means is connected to the system bus  134  via a driver  192 .  
     [0089] The portable information terminal  18  has two communication routes, i.e., a first communication route  160  and a second communication route  170 , for receiving data from and outputting data to external devices.  
     [0090] The first communication route  160  comprises an infrared interface  166  which is a module according to IrDA (Infrared Data Association) having an infrared emitter  162  and an infrared detector  164 , and the UART  138 . Infrared signals are received from and outputted to external devices via the Infrared interface  166 , converted from parallel into serial signals or from serial into parallel signals by the UART  138 , and supplied to and outputted from the system bus  134 .  
     [0091] The second communication route  170  comprises the connector (physical connector)  96  for making a physical connection, and the serial-parallel interface (SPI)  136 . As described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the connector  96  is mounted In either one of terminal insertion units (upper slot units  50 B,  52 B) of the slots  50 ,  52  of the entertainment apparatus  32 , supplies serial data of information from the entertainment apparatus  32 , e.g., information read from the optical disk  40  (including application software of a game) to the SPI  136 , which converts the serial data into parallel data and supplies the parallel data to the system bus  134 .  
     [0092] An image is displayed on the display screen of the display unit  90  of the portable information terminal  18  as follows: The GDC  154  as the image processing means exchanges data with a frame memory  180  connected thereto, and controls an LCDC (Liquid Crystal Display Controller)  182 , which is a controller for the liquid crystal display unit, to display an image on the display screen of the display unit  90 .  
     [0093] Sound (including music sound) is outputted from a speaker  184  as a sound outputting means as follows: The DAC  156  for converting a digital signal into an analog signal receives digital sound data from the system bus  134 , converts the digital sound data into analog sound data, and supplies the analog sound data to the speaker  184 , which radiates corresponding sound.  
     [0094] Characteristic functions of the portable information terminal  18  according to the present invention will be described below.  
     [0095] The first function is to convert an unequal-length code entered via the manual control pad  88  into character information and display the character information on the display unit  90 . The second function is to generate and output a light-emitting signal to the LED  190  in synchronism with the inputting of the unequal-length code to cause the LED  190  to emit light in response to the inputting of the unequal-length code.  
     [0096] The unequal-length code may comprise a Japanese Morse code or a European Morse code which is composed of a combination of dots (•) and dashes (-).  
     [0097] If the length (continuation time) of a dot is represented by one unit, then the length of a dash is represented by a length (continuation time) that is three times the length of the dot, i.e., three units. Two units or less are regarded as representing a dot, and three units or more are regarded as representing a dash. The interval between two codes, i.e., a separating no-input period or blank length, is represented by three units, and the interval between two words is represented by seven units.  
     [0098] The actual time of one unit is not determined as “00.1 second”, for example, i.e., there are no public rules defining the time of one unit. Therefore, the actual time of one unit may be set to a suitable value when a program is generated for the portable information terminal  18 .  
     [0099] The third function is to convert character information entered via the manual control pad  88  into an unequal-length code. The fourth function Is to generate and output a light-emitting signal to the LED  190  based on the converted unequal-length code to cause the LED  190  to emit light depending on the converted unequal-length code which corresponds to the inputted character information.  
     [0100] The fifth function is to transmit the character information via the infrared emitter  162  to an external device, and receive character information detected from an external device via the infrared detector  164  and display the received character information on the display unit  90 .  
     [0101] A video game (terminal game) played on the portable information terminal  18  with the above functions will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8A through 12.  
     [0102] The terminal game has a “study mode”, a “practice mode”, a “self-teaching mode”, and a “conversation mode”.  
     [0103] The study mode is a mode for browsing or studying the European Morse code and the Japanese Morse code, and confirming and testing characters and the Morse codes. In the study mode, as shown in FIG. 8A, the display unit  90  has its displayed view divided into a character display area  200  and a code display area  202 .  
     [0104] For confirming characters and the Morse codes, when a desirers character is selected from a character list  204  displayed on the display unit  18  as shown in FIG. 8B, the selected character is displayed in the character display area  200  and a Morse code, i.e., a combination of dots and dashes, is displayed in the code display area  202 , as shown in FIG. 8A  
     [0105] To select a character from the character list  204 , as shown in FIG. 8B, the user moves a cursor  206  by pressing the direction buttons  84 , I.e., an up button  84   a , a left button  84   b , a right button  84   c , and a down button  84   d , and presses the decision button  86  when the cursor  206  is positioned on the desired character. The desired character is now selected as shown in FIG. 8A. When the user continuously presses the up button  84   a  or the down button  84   d  while the character list  204  is being displayed, the displayed view scrolls upwardly or downwardly to allow the user to see the character list  204  in its entirety.  
     [0106] For confirming characters and the Morse codes from the displayed image shown in FIG. 8A, the user presses the left button  84   b  or the right button  84   c  to display the character list  204  again, and then operates the manual control pad  88  in the same manner as described above.  
     [0107] For testing characters and the Morse codes, the user presses the decision button  86  from the above confirming state to start a testing process. In the testing process the Morse code displayed in the code display area  202  is erased, and the manual control pad  88  waits for a Morse code to be entered by the user.  
     [0108] When the user presses the decision button  86  to enter a code in the form of a combination of dots and dashes, the entered code is displayed in the code display area  202 . If there is no character corresponding to the entered code, then the display unit  90  displays “NG” in its entire displayed view, as shown in FIG. 9A.  
     [0109] If there Is a character corresponding to the entered code, but it does not match the selected character, then the display unit  90  displays “x” in its entire displayed view, as shown in FIG. 9B. If there is a character corresponding to the entered code, but It matches the selected character, then the display unit  90  displays “◯” in its entire displayed view, as shown in FIG. 9C.  
     [0110] In the practice mode, as shown in FIG. 10, the display unit  90  has its displayed view divided into a reference display area  208  and an input display area  210 . The reference display area  208  displays a computer-selected character and a Morse code corresponding to the computer-selected character, and the user enters the same Morse code as the Morse code displayed In the reference display area  208  within a certain limit time.  
     [0111] If the user correctly enters the Morse code within the limit time, then the display unit  90  displays “◯” in its entire displayed view, as shown in FIG. 9C. If the limit time has expired or the user enters a wrong Morse code, then the display unit  90  displays “x” In Its entire displayed view, as shown in FIG. 9B.  
     [0112] In the practice mode, ten consecutive questions may be presented, and the limit time may be 10 seconds, for example. A score of 100 points per question is given at the start of the practice mode, and will be reduced each time the user fails to answer the question. For example, the score is reduced one point each time a 6 sync. period has elapsed before the user answers the question, and the total points for the questions will be final points.  
     [0113] In the self-teaching mode, as shown in FIG. 11, the display unit  90  has its displayed view divided into a character display area  212  and an input display area  214 . When the user enters a combination of dots and dashes, the input display area  214  displays the entered combination of dots and dashes. If there is a Morse code matching the entered combination of dots and dashes, then a character corresponding to the Morse code is displayed in the character display area  212 . If there is no Morse code matching the entered combination of dots and dashes, then the display unit  90  displays “NG” in its entire displayed view, as shown in FIG. 9A.  
     [0114] In the study mode, the practice mode, and the self-teaching mode, when the user enters a Morse code using the decision button  86 , the red LED  190 , for example, is energized in response to the pressing of the decision button  86 .  
     [0115] The conversation mode is a mode for sending and receiving information about words and phrases composed of a plurality of characters via the infrared emitter  162  and the infrared detector  164 .  
     [0116] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the user of the portable information terminal  18  that is used as a sending terminal enters a word  220  into the portable information terminal  18 , and operates the portable information terminal  18  to send the entered word  220 . Information about the entered word  220  is now sent to an external device via the infrared emitter  162 .  
     [0117] A plurality of portable information terminals  18  are placed such that their windows  92 , each housing the infrared emitter  162 , the infrared detector  164 , and the LED  190 , face each other. The information about the entered word  220  which is sent from one of the portable information terminals  18  via the infrared emitter  162  is received by the other portable information terminal  18  via the infrared detector  164 . In this manner, the users of the portable information terminals  18  can talk to or communicate with each other using the portable information terminals  18 .  
     [0118] At this time, the display units  90  of the sending and receiving portable information terminals  18  display the word  220  that is sent and received.  
     [0119] The LED  190  may be arranged to emit light in synchronism with Morse codes corresponding to the characters of the word  220 . With the LED  190  thus emitting light, the portable information terminals  18  look like having a conversation with each other using Morse codes.  
     [0120] If the user is skilled enough to be able to read Morse codes by looking at the emission of light from the LED  190  in the study mode, the practice mode, and the self-teaching mode, then the user of the portable information terminal  18  can have a conversation using Morse codes based on emitted light, without having to see the displayed word  220 . Therefore, the user finds a lot of fun using portable information terminal  18  to talk to the user of another portable information terminal  18 .  
     [0121] One example of software for performing the above characteristic functions will be described below with reference to FIGS. 13 through 31. As shown in FIG. 13, the software comprises a terminal information processing means  300 . The software which will be described below is by way of illustrative purpose only. Various other types of software may be employed insofar as they can perform the above characteristic functions.  
     [0122] The terminal information processing means  300  can be supplied to the portable information terminal  18  via the entertainment system  10  from a randomly accessible recording medium such as a CD-ROM, the memory card  14 , or a network. It is assumed in the present embodiment that the terminal information processing means  300  Is read from the optical disk  40  such as a CD-ROM into the portable Information terminal  18  via the entertainment apparatus  32 .  
     [0123] The terminal information processing means  300  is downloaded in advance from the optical disk  40  played back by the entertainment apparatus  32  into the data memory  142  of the portable information terminal  18  via the entertainment apparatus  32 , and executed by the CPU  132  of the portable information terminal  18 .  
     [0124] As shown in FIG. 13, the terminal information processing means  300  comprises a study mode processing means  302 , a practice mode processing means  304 , a self-teaching mode processing means  306 , a first conversation mode processing means  308 , and a second conversation mode processing means  310  for the various modes described above.  
     [0125] As shown in FIG. 14, the study mode processing means  302  comprises an input processing means  320  for instructing the LED  190  to emit light in response to the inputting of a code by the user, a light-emitting signal generating means  322  for generating and outputting a light-emitting signal to the LED  190  according to a turn-on or turn-off instruction from the input processing means  320 , and a character converting means  324  for converting code information based on a code entered by the user into character information.  
     [0126] The input processing means  320  outputs a turn-on or turn-off signal depending on how the decision button  86  of the manual control pad  88  is operated, and instructs the LED  190  to emit light or turn off light depending on how the decision button  86  is operated. The character converting means  324  samples a turn-on or turn-off signal from the input processing means  320 , converts the signal into code information comprising a combination of dots and dashes, and converts code information into character information.  
     [0127] The Study mode processing means  302  also comprises a list displaying means  326  for displaying a character list  204  (see FIG. 8B) on the display unit  90 , a coordinate receiving means  328  for receiving positional information (coordinates) of the cursor  206  at the time the decision button  86  is operated while the character list  204  is being displayed, a character retrieving means  332  for retrieving character information from an information table  330  based on the received coordinates, and a code retrieving means  334  for retrieving code information corresponding to the retrieved character information from the information table  330 . The character information retrieved by the character retrieving means  332  is stored in a reference character memory  336 .  
     [0128] The study mode processing means  302  also comprises a character displaying means  338  for displaying the character information stored in the reference character memory  336  in the character display area  200  of the display unit  90 , a code displaying means  340  for displaying the retrieved code information as a combination of dots and dashes in the code display area  202  of the display unit  90 , a determining means  342  for determining whether the character information from the character converting means  324  matches the character information stores in the reference character memory  336  or not, and a determined result displaying means  344  for displaying a determined result from the determining means  342  on the display unit  90 . The determining means  342  also determines whether error information is outputted from the character converting means  324  or not.  
     [0129] As shown in FIG. 15, the Information table  330  stores a plurality of records each containing character information and code information. The character information represents a Japanese character or a European character in the form of a JIS code. The code information represents a Morse code corresponding to the character information and comprising a combination of logic data “10” and “11”.  
     [0130] The logic data “10” represents a dot (•), and the logic data “11” represents a dash (−). For example, since the Morse code corresponding to the character “A” is “•−”, the code information “1011” is stored in association with the character “A”.  
     [0131] A processing sequence of the input processing means  320  will be described below with reference to FIG. 16. In step S 1  shown in FIG. 16, the input processing means  320  determines whether there is an input from the decision button  86  or not. If there is an input from the decision button  86 , then control goes to step S 2  in which the input processing means  320  gives a turn-on instruction to the light-emitting signal generating means  322 . The input processing means  320  then outputs a turn-on signal in step S 3 .  
     [0132] If there is no input from the decision button  86  in step S 1 , then control jumps to step S 4  in which the input processing means  320  gives a turn-off instruction to the light-emitting signal generating means  322 . The input processing means  320  then outputs a turn-off signal in step S 5 .  
     [0133] In step S 6 , the input processing means  320  determines whether there is a program end request for the input processing means  320  or not. If there is no program end request, then control goes back to step S 1  to repeat the processing from step S 1 .  
     [0134] While the decision button  86  is being operated in the processing in steps S 1 -S 6 , the processing in steps S 2 , S 3  is repeated to output a turn-on instruction and a turn-on signal successively. While the decision button  86  is not being operated in the processing in steps S 1 -S 6 , the processing in steps S 4 , S 5  is repeated to output a turn-off instruction and a turn-off signal successively.  
     [0135] If there is a program end request in step S 6 , then the processing sequence of the input processing means  320  is put to an end.  
     [0136] As shown in FIG. 17, the character converting means  324  comprises a sampling means  350  for sampling the outputting period of a turn-on signal or a turn-off signal based on one unit of Morse code, and counting units of a signal length in which the decision button  86  is operated and units of blank length in which the decision button  86  is not operated. The count of the units of the signal length Is stored in a first counter  352 , and the count of the units of the blank length is stored in a second counter  354 .  
     [0137] The character converting means  324  also comprises a code information storing means  358  for checking if the signal from the input processing means  320  represents dot information or dash information based on the count of the units of the signal length which is stored In the first counter  352 , and storing the checked result into a buffer  356  in successive addresses, a determining means  360  for determining whether there is data in the buffer  356  and whether a character is to be converted or not based on the count of the units of the blank length which is stored in the second counter  354 , and a character retrieving means  362  for retrieving character information corresponding to the code information stored in the buffer  356  from the information table  330 .  
     [0138] If the code information storing means  358  finds dot information based on the count of the units of the signal length, then the code Information storing means  358  stores the logic data “10” into the buffer  356 . If the code information storing means  358  finds dash information based on the count of the units of the signal length, then the code Information storing means  358  stores the logic data “11” into the buffer  356 .  
     [0139] The character retrieving moans  362  outputs error information rather than character information if no character information corresponding to the code information stored in the buffer  356  is present in the information table  330 .  
     [0140] A processing sequence of the study mode processing means  302  will be described below with reference to FIGS. 13, 18 through  21 .  
     [0141] In step S 101  shown in FIG. 18, the list displaying means  326  displays the character list  204  on the display unit  90 , as shown in FIG. 8B.  
     [0142] In step S 102 , the study mode processing means  302  determines whether a character is selected or not based on whether there is an input from the decision button  86  or not. If there is an input from the decision button  86 , then control goes to step S 103  in which the coordinate receiving means  328  receives positional information (coordinates) of the cursor  206  at the time the decision button  86  is operated.  
     [0143] In step S 104 , the character retrieving means  332  retrieves character information from the information table  330  based on the received coordinates. Thereafter, in step S 105 , the character retrieving means  332  stores the retrieved character information into the reference character memory  336 . In step S 106 , the code retrieving means  334  retrieves code information corresponding to the retrieved character information from the information table  330 .  
     [0144] In step S 107 , the character displaying means  338  displays the character information stored in the reference character memory  336  in the character display area  200  of the display unit  90 , as shown in FIG. 8A. In step S 108 , the code displaying means  340  displays the retrieved code information as a combination of dots and dashes in the code display area  202  of the display unit  90 .  
     [0145] In step S 109  shown in FIG. 19, the study mode processing means  302  determines whether there is a test request from the user or not. If there is a test request from the user, control then goes to step S 110  in which the study mode processing means  302  erases the Morse code currently displayed in the code display area  202  of the display unit  90  Then, the character converting means  324  performs its own processing sequence in step S 111 .  
     [0146] The processing sequence of the character converting means  324  is shown in FIGS. 20 and 21.  
     [0147] In step S 201  shown in FIG. 20, the character converting means  324  initializes the buffer  356  (see FIG. 17). In step S 202 , the sampling means  350  samples the outputting period of a turn-off signal based on one unit of Morse code, and stores the count of the units of the blank length into the second counter  354 .  
     [0148] In step S 203 , the determining means  360  determines whether there is data in the buffer  356  or not. If there is data in the buffer  356 , then control goes to step S 204  in which the determining means  360  determines whether a character is to be converted or not based on whether or not the count of the units of the blank length stored in the second counter  354  is  3  or more.  
     [0149] If there is no data in the buffer  356  in step  5203  or if the count of the units of the blank length stored In the second counter  354  is 2 or less in step S 204 , then control goes to step S 205  in which the sampling means  350  samples the outputting period of a turn-on signal based on one unit of Morse code, and stores the count of the units of the signal length into the first counter  352 .  
     [0150] In step S 206 , the code information storing means  358  checks if the signal from the input processing means  320  represents dot information or dash information based on the count of the units of the signal length which Is stored In the first counter  352 . In step S 207 , the code information storing means  358  stores the code information based on the checked result into the buffer  356  in successive addresses. For example, if the checked result indicates dot information, then the logic data “10” is stored into the buffer  356 , and if the checked result indicates dash information, then the logic data “11” is stored into the buffer  356 .  
     [0151] After the processing in step S 207 , control returns to step S 202  to repeat the processing from step S 202 .  
     [0152] If the count of the units of the blank length stored in the second counter  354  is 3 or more in step S 204 , then control goes to step S 208  show in FIG. 21 in which the character retrieving means  362  reads the code information from the buffer  356 . Thereafter, in step S 209 , the character retrieving means  362  retrieves character information corresponding to the code information stored in the buffer  356  from the information table  330 .  
     [0153] In step S 210 , the character retrieving means  362  determines whether character information corresponding to the code information stored in the buffer  356  is present in the Information table  330  or not. If corresponding character information is present in the information table  330 , then control goes to step S 211  in which the character retrieving means  362  outputs the retrieved character information.  
     [0154] In step S 212 , the character converting means  324  determines whether the conversation mode is presently executed or not. In the conversation mode, since a word  220  composed of a plurality of characters, rather than a single character, is processed, successive characters need to be converted.  
     [0155] Therefore, if the conversation mode is presently executed, then control goes to step S 213  in which the determining means  360  determines whether a character relative to a next input is to be converted or not based on whether or not the count of the units of the blank length stored in the second counter  354  is 6 or less.  
     [0156] If the count of the units of the blank length stored In the second counter  354  is 6 or less, then control goes to step S 214  in which the character converting means  324  initializes the buffer  356 . Thereafter, control goes to step S 205  shown in FIG. 20.  
     [0157] If the conversation mode Is not presently executed in step S 212  or if the count of the units of the blank length stored in the second counter  354  is 7 or more In step S 213 , then the processing sequence of the character converting means  324  is put to an end.  
     [0158] If corresponding character information is not present In the information table  330  in step S 210 , then control proceeds to step S 215  in which the character retrieving means  362  outputs error Information rather than character information. Thereafter, the processing sequence of the character converting means  324  is ended.  
     [0159] In the main routine shown In FIG. 19, the study mode processing means  302  determines whether there is error information outputted from the character converting means  324  with respect to the character conversion or not in step S 112 . If there is no error information outputted from the character converting means  324  with respect to the character conversion, then control goes to step S 113  In which the determining means  342  determines whether the character information from the character converting means  324  matches character information stored in the reference character memory  336 , i.e., character information based on the code entered by the user, or not. If the character information from the character converting means  324  matches character information stored in the reference character memory  336 , then control goes to step S 114  In which the determined result displaying means  344  displays “◯”, indicative of a match, in the entire displayed view of the display unit  90 , as shown in FIG. 9C.  
     [0160] If the character information from the character converting means  324  does not match character information stored in the reference character memory  336 , then control goes to step S 115  in which the determined result displaying means  344  displays “x”, Indicative of a matching failure, in the entire displayed view of the display unit  90 , as shown in FIG. 9B.  
     [0161] If there is error information outputted from the character converting means  324  with respect to the character conversion in step S 112 , then control goes to step S 116  in which the determined result displaying means  344  displays “NG”, indicative of no corresponding character, in the entire displayed view of the display unit  90 , as shown in FIG. 9A.  
     [0162] After the processing in either one of steps S 114 -S 116  or if there is no test request from the user In step S 109 , control goes to step S 117  to determine whether there is a program end request for the study mode processing means  302  or not.  
     [0163] If there is no program end request, then control goes back to step S 101  to repeat the processing from step S 101 . If there is a program end request, then the processing sequence of the study mode processing means  302  comes to an end.  
     [0164] The practice mode processing means  304  will be described below with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23. Those parts of the practice mode processing means  304  which are identical to those shown in FIG. 14 are denoted by identical reference numerals, and will not be described in detail below.  
     [0165] As shown in FIG. 22, the practice mode processing means  304  has the input processing means  320 , the character converting means  324 , the determining means  342 , the determined result displaying means  344 , the code retrieving means  334 , the code displaying means  340 , and the character displaying means  338 , and also additionally has a character extracting means  370  for randomly extracting character information from the information table  330  and storing the extracted character information into the reference character memory  336 .  
     [0166] The determining means  342  determines whether the character information from the character converting means  324  matches the character information stored in the reference character memory  336  or not, whether error information is outputted from the character converting means  324  or not, and whether the limit time has elapsed or not based on time information from the RTC  148 .  
     [0167] The code retrieving means  334  retrieves code information corresponding to the character information extracted by the character extracting means  370  from the information table  330 .  
     [0168] A processing sequence of the practice mode processing means  304  will be described below with reference to FIG. 23.  
     [0169] In step S 301  shown in FIG. 23, the character extracting means  370  randomly extracts character information from the information table  330 , and stores the extracted character information into the reference character memory  336 .  
     [0170] In step S 302 , the code retrieving means  334  retrieves code information corresponding to the retrieved character information from the information table  330 . In step S 303 , the character displaying means  338  displays the character information stored in the reference character memory  336  in the reference display area  208  of the display unit  90 , as shown in FIG. 10. In step S 304 , the code displaying means  340  displays the retrieved code information as a combination of dots and dashes in the reference display area  208  of the display unit  90 .  
     [0171] In step S 305 , the character converting means  324  performs its own processing sequence. Since the processing sequence of the character converting means  324  has already been described above, it will not be described in detail below. At this stage, however, the user enters a code as a combination of dots and dashes, and the input display area  214  of the display unit  90  displays the code entered by the user, with the LED  190  emitting light depending on the entered code.  
     [0172] In step S 306 , the determining means  342  determines whether the user has entered the code within the limit time or not. If the user has entered the code within the limit time, then control goes to step S 307  in which the determining means  342  determines whether the character information from the character converting means  324 , i.e., the character information based on the code entered by the user, matches the character information stored In the reference character memory  336  or not. If the character information from the character converting means  324  matches the character information stored in the reference character memory  336 , then control goes to step S 308  In which the determined result displaying means  344  displays “◯”, indicative of a match, in the entire displayed view of the display unit  90 , as shown in FIG. 9C.  
     [0173] If the character information from the character converting means  324  does not match the character information stored in the reference character memory  336  in step S 307 , if error information is outputted from the character converting means  324 , or if the limit time has elapsed in step S 306 , then control goes to step S 309  in which the determined result displaying means  344  displays “x”, indicative of a matching failure, in the entire displayed view of the display unit  90 , as shown in FIG. 9B.  
     [0174] After the processing in step S 308  or S 309 , control goes to step S 310  to determine whether there is a program end request for the practice mode processing means  304  or not.  
     [0175] If there is no program end request, then control goes back to step S 301  to repeat the processing from step S 301 . If there is a program end request, then the processing sequence of the practice mode processing means  304  is put to an end.  
     [0176] The self-teaching mode processing means  306  will be described below with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25. Those parts of the self-teaching mode processing means  306  which are identical to those shown in FIG. 14 are denoted by identical reference numerals, and will not be described in detail below.  
     [0177] As shown in FIG. 24, the self-teaching mode processing means  306  has the input processing means  320 , the character converting means  324 , the determining means  342 , the character displaying means  338 , and the determined result displaying means  344 . In the self-teaching mode, the determining  5  means  342  determines whether error information is outputted from the character converting means  324  or not.  
     [0178] In the self-teaching mode processing means  306 , the character converting means  324  and the character displaying means  338  jointly serve as a character converting and displaying means.  
     [0179] A processing sequence of the self-teaching mode processing means  306  will be described below with reference to FIG. 25.  
     [0180] In step S 401  shown in FIG. 25, the character converting means  324  performs its own processing sequence. Since the processing sequence of the character converting means  324  has already been described above, it will not be described in detail below. At this stage, however, the user enters a code as a combination of dots and dashes, and the Input display area  214  of the display unit  90  displays the code entered by the user, as shown in FIG. 11, with the LED  190  emitting light depending on the entered code.  
     [0181] In step S 402 , the self-teaching mode processing means  306  determines whether there is error information outputted  25  from the character converting means  324  with respect to the character conversion or not. If there is no error information outputted from the character converting means  324 , then control goes to step S 403  in which the character displaying means  338  displays character information from the character converting means  324  in the character display area  212  of the display unit  90 , as shown in FIG. 11.  
     [0182] If there is error information outputted from the character converting means  324  in step S 402 , then control goes to step S 404  in which the determined result displaying means  344  displays “NG”, indicative of no corresponding character, in the entire displayed view of the display unit  90 , as shown In FIG. 9A.  
     [0183] After the processing in step S 403  or S 404 , control goes to step S 405  to determine whether there is a program end request for the self-teaching mode processing means  306  or not.  
     [0184] If there is no program end request, then control goes back to step S 401  to repeat the processing from step S 401 . If there is a program end request, then the processing sequence of the self-teaching mode processing means  306  is put to an end.  
     [0185] The first conversation mode processing means  308  will be described below with reference to FIGS. 26 through 29. Those parts of the first conversation mode processing means  308  which are identical to those shown in FIG. 14 are denoted by identical reference numerals, and will not be described in detail below.  
     [0186] As shown In FIG. 26, the first conversation mode processing means  308  comprises a transmitter  380  and a receiver  382 .  
     [0187] The transmitter  380  has the list displaying means  326 , the coordinate receiving means  328 , and the character displaying means  38 .  
     [0188] The transmitter  380  also comprises a character/code retrieving means  384  for retrieving character information and code information corresponding thereto from the information table  330  based on received coordinates, a character/code storing means  388  for successively storing the character information and the code information from the character/code retrieving means  384  into a transmitting buffer  386 , an LED processing means  390  for giving an instruction to the light-emitting signal generating means  322  to enable the LED  190  to emit light depending on a combination of dots and dashes corresponding to a plurality of items of code information among the character information and the code information stored in the transmitting buffer  386 , and a transmitting means  392  for reading word/phrase information composed of a plurality of items of character information among the character information and the code information stored in the transmitting buffer  386 , and transmitting the read word/phrase information via the infrared emitter  162  to an external device.  
     [0189] The receiver  382  comprises a receiving means  402  for storing word/phrase information received via the infrared detector  164  into a receiving buffer  400 , and a word/phrase displaying means  404  for reading word/phrase information stored in the receiving buffer  400  and displaying the read word/phrase Information on the display unit  90 .  
     [0190] A processing sequence of the transmitter  380  of the first conversation mode processing means  308  will be described below with reference to FIGS. 26, 27 and  28 .  
     [0191] In step S 501  shown in FIG. 27, the list displaying means  326  displays the character list  204  on the display unit  90 , as shown In FIG. 8B.  
     [0192] In step S 502 , the transmitter  380  determines whether a character is selected or not based on whether there is an input from the decision button  86  or not. If there is an input from the decision button  86 , then control goes to step S 503  in which the coordinate receiving means  328  receives positional information (coordinates) of the cursor  206  at the time the decision button  86  is operated.  
     [0193] In step S 504 , the character/code retrieving means  384  retrieves character information and code information corresponding thereto from the information table  330  based on the received coordinates. In step S 505 , the character displaying means  338  displays the retrieved character information on the display unit  90 .  
     [0194] In step S 506 , the character/code storing means  388  successively stores the retrieved character information and the code information corresponding thereto into the transmitting buffer  386 .  
     [0195] In step S 507 , the transmitter  380  determines whether there is a transmitting instruction or not. If there is no transmitting instruction, then control goes back to step S 501  to process next inputted character information. If there is a transmitting instruction, then control goes to step S 508  in which the transmitting means  392  transmits a plurality of items of character information (word/phrase information) stored in the transmitting buffer  386  to external devices via the infrared emitter  162 . The transmitted word/phrase information is received by the receiver  382  of another portable information terminal  18 .  
     [0196] Thereafter, in step S 509 , the LED processing means  390  performs its own processing sequence. The processing sequence of the LED processing means  390  is illustrated in FIG. 28. In step S 601  shown in FIG. 28, the LED processing means  390  successively reads a plurality of items of code information from the items of character and code information stored in the transmitting buffer  386 . The read items of code information are successively deleted from the transmitting buffer  386 .  
     [0197] In step S 602 , the LED processing means  390  determines whether there is data (code information) to be read or not. If there is code Information, then control goes to step S 603  in which the LED processing means  390  determines whether the read code information is relative to a dot or not based on whether the read logic data is “10” or not.  
     [0198] If the read code information is relative to a dot, then control goes to step S 604  in which the LED processing means  390  gives an instruction (dot emitting instruction) to the light-emitting signal generating means  322  to emit a dot of light. In response to the dot emitting instruction from the LED processing means  390 , the light-emitting signal generating means  322  causes the LED  190  to emit light for a period corresponding to one unit (dot light emission), for example.  
     [0199] If the read code information is relative to a dash in step S 603 , then control goes to step S 605  In which the LED processing means  390  gives an instruction (dash emitting instruction) to the light-emitting signal generating means  322  to emit a dash of light. In response to the dash emitting instruction from the LED processing means  390 , the light-emitting signal generating means  322  causes the LED  190  to emit light for a period corresponding to three units (dash light emission), for example.  
     [0200] After the processing in step S 604  or S 605 , control goes to step S 606  in which the LED processing means  390  sets a blank length corresponding to two units between codes that make up one character, and sets a blank length corresponding to seven units between a plurality of characters. In this manner, a blank of two units in which the LED  190  is turned off is placed between codes that make up one character, and a blank length corresponding to seven units is placed between a plurality of characters.  
     [0201] Thereafter, control returns to step S 601  to repeat the processing from the step S 601 . If there is no code information to be read in step S 602 , the processing sequence of the LED processing means  390  is ended.  
     [0202] Control goes back to the routine shown in FIG. 27. In step S 510 , the transmitting buffer  386  is initialized, and the processing sequence of the transmitter  380  is put to an end.  
     [0203] A processing sequence of the receiver  382  of the first conversation mode processing means  308  will be described below with reference to FIG. 29.  
     [0204] In step S 701  shown in FIG. 29, the receiving means  402  stores word/phrase information received via the infrared detector  164  into the receiving buffer  400 .  
     [0205] In step S 702 , as shown in FIG. 12. the word/phrase displaying means  404  displays the word/phrase information stored in the receiving buffer  400  on the display unit  90 . After the processing in step S 702 , the processing sequence of the receiver  382  comes to an end.  
     [0206] The second conversation mode processing means  310  will be described below with reference to FIG. 30. As shown in FIG. 30, the second conversation mode processing means  310  comprises a transmitter  380  and a receiver  382 . The transmitter  380  of the second conversation mode processing means  310  has the input processing means  320 , the character converting means  324 , the determining means  342 , the character displaying means  338 , the character/code storing means  388 , the transmitting means  392 , and the LED processing means  390 . At the time the determining means  342  determines that there is character information, the character displaying means  338  displays the character information on the display unit  90 .  
     [0207] The receiver  382  of the second conversation mode processing means  310  is identical to the receiver  382  of the first conversation mode processing means  308 , and will not be described below.  
     [0208] A processing sequence of the second conversation mode processing means  310  will be described below with reference to FIG. 31.  
     [0209] In step S 801  shown in FIG. 31, the character converting means  324  performs its own processing sequence. Since the processing sequence of the character converting means  324  has already been described above, it will not be described in detail below. At this stage, however, the user enters a code as a combination of dots and dashes, and the display unit  90  displays the code entered by the user, with the LED  190  emitting light depending on the entered code.  
     [0210] In step S 802 , the transmitter  380  determines whether there is error Information outputted from the character converting means  324  with respect to the character conversion or not. If there is error information outputted from the character converting means  324 , the character converting means  324  performs its own processing sequence in step S 801 . At this time, the display unit  90  may display “NG”. If there is no error information, then control goes to step S 803  In which the character displaying means  338  displays character information from the character converting means  324  on the display unit  90 .  
     [0211] In step S 804 , the character/code storing means  388  stores the character information and the code information which have been retrieved in the transmitting buffer  386 .  
     [0212] In step S 805 , the transmitter  380  determines whether there is a transmitting instruction or not. If there is no transmitting instruction, then control goes back to step S 801  to process next inputted character information. If there is a transmitting instruction, then control goes to step S 806  in which the transmitting means  392  transmits a plurality of items of character information (word/phrase information) stored in the transmitting buffer  386  via the infrared emitter  162 . The transmitted word/phrase information is received by the receiver  382  of another portable information terminal  18 .  
     [0213] In step S 807 , the LED processing means  390  performs its own processing sequence. The processing sequence of the LED processing means  390  has already been described above, and will not be described in detail below. In the processing sequence of the LED processing means  390 , the LED  190  emits light representing a Morse code corresponding to the character information to be transmitted.  
     [0214] In step S 808 , the transmitting buffer  386  is initialized. The processing sequence of the transmitter  380  of the second conversation mode processing means  310  is now ended.  
     [0215] The processing sequence of the receiver  382  of the second conversation mode processing means  310  is identical to the processing sequence of the receiver  382  of the first conversation mode processing means  308 , and will not be described below.  
     [0216] As described above, the portable information terminal  18  according to the present invention converts a Morse code entered via the manual control pad  88  into character information and displays the character information on the display unit  90  Therefore, the portable information terminal  18  allows the user to generate characters with Morse codes. The portable information terminal  18  can be used as a portable game machine, and can generate character information with Morse codes and communicate with another portable information terminal  18  with the generated character information.  
     [0217] Since the LED  190  is turned on in synchronism with the inputting of a Morse code, the LED  190  emits light depending on the inputting of the Morse code. Therefore, the user can recognize the relationship between a Morse code and a character based on a visual sensation such as of light emission as well as the inputting of the Morse code. The emission of light from the LED  190  is effective to assist the user in memorizing Morse codes, for example.  
     [0218] Inasmuch as character information entered via the manual control pad  88  is converted into a Morse code, the portable information terminal  18  is suitable for use in communications with external devices using Morse codes. Furthermore, because the LED  190  emits lights depending on a converted Morse code, the portable information terminal  18  makes it possible to perform optical communications using Morse codes.  
     [0219] The portable information terminal  18  has the transmitter  380  for transmitting character information via the infrared emitter  162  and the receiver  382  for receiving character information via the infrared detector  164  and for displaying the character information on the display unit  90 . Thus, the portable information terminal  18  is capable of performing sending and receiving character information through both optical communications using Morse codes and wireless communications in a radio frequency range (RF range) and an infrared range (IR range ). The user finds it interesting to use the portable information terminal  18  because it can simulate communications using Morse codes.  
     [0220] Although a certain preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.