Abstract:
An interface cable allows the number of components and manufacturing costs to be reduced. The interface cable has a housing defining an inner volume which has an opening. A first connector is removably connectable to one of a computer and a portable terminal. The first connector protrudes through the opening in the housing. An interface circuit is coupled to the first connector in which the interface circuit is located within the housing. A cable is coupled to the interface circuit. A second connector is removably connectable to the other of the computer and the portable terminal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an interface cable for connecting a portable terminal to a computer in which the portable terminal is comprised, for example, of a data transmission apparatus and a mobile communication apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, a portable terminal, such as a data transmission apparatus coupled with a mobile communication apparatus, has an input/output terminal for inputting and/or outputting information for communication with an external apparatus. A computer also has an input/output terminal that allows input and/or output of information for communication with various peripheral apparatuses. In particular, recently developed personal computers include one or more general-purpose input/output terminals, such as universal serial bus (USB) terminals and/or IEEE-1394 terminals. The input/output terminals of the portable terminal and the computer are connected to each other via an interface circuit, thereby allowing communication between the portable terminal and the computer. 
     In order to communicate information between the portable terminal and the input/output terminal of the computer, computer-side information must be converted to information readable by the portable terminal. Also, portable-terminal-side information must be converted to information readable by the computer. For the conversion of the information, an interface circuit is required. A conventional interface cable has the aforementioned interface circuit between its ends to bilaterally convert the portable-terminal-side information and the computer-side information to an information format readable by the recipient. 
     Hereinbelow, referring to FIGS. 7 to  9 , a description will be given of an example conventional interface cable. The conventional interface cable is used to connect a personal digital cellular terminal (which is referred to as a PDC terminal herein) provided as an input/output terminal in a portable telephone T to a USB terminal provided as an input/output terminal in a computer C. 
     In the figures, a PDC connector unit  1  to be connected to the PDC terminal of the portable telephone T comprises a PDC connector housing  2 , a PDC connector  3 , hooks  4 , and operation sections  5 . The connector housing  2  is formed into a box-shape having an open end which is comprised of a rectangular upper housing  2 A and a rectangular lower housing  2 B. The PDC connector  3  is attached to the open side of the connector housing  2  and is connectable to the PDC terminal of the portable telephone T. The hooks  4  are provided on the lateral faces of the PDC connector housing  2  which are arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the open side of the PDC connector housing  2  so as to be engaged with and disengaged from the PDC terminal. The operation sections  5  are used to disengage the individual hooks. 
     On the PDC connector  3 , for example, 16 electrode terminals  3 A are provided. One end of a telephone-side cable  6  is connected to the individual electrode terminals  3 A via core wires  6 A. The PDC connector unit  1  is connected to an interface circuit  7  via the telephone-side cable  6 . 
     The interface circuit  7  is connected to the other end of the telephone-side cable  6  and includes a circuit housing  8  and a circuit board  9 . The circuit housing  8  is formed into a container and is comprised of an upper housing  8 A and a lower housing  8 B. The circuit board  9  on which integrated circuit elements (ICs) and other circuit elements are formed is provided in the circuit housing  8 . The other end of the telephone-side cable  6  is connected to the circuit board  9  via the 16 core wires  6 A. Also, one end of a computer-side cable  10  is connected to the circuit board  9 , via four core wires  10 A. The interface circuit  7  configured as described above uses the ICs and other circuit elements which are provided on the circuit board  9 . The interface circuit  7  converts the computer-side information C to information readable by the portable telephone T, and converts the portable-telephone-side information to information readable by the computer C. 
     The USB connector  11  is connectable to a USB terminal on the computer C. The USB connector  11  is formed of a USB-connector housing  12  and a USB plug  13 . The USB-connector housing  12  forms a box-shaped container having one open end and includes an upper housing  12 A and a lower housing  12 B. The USB plug  13  is connectable to the USB terminal of the computer C and is provided in the USB-connector housing  12 . 
     In the USB plug  13 , for example, four electrode terminals  13 A are provided. The other end of the core wires  10 A of the computer-side cable  10  is connected to the electrode terminals  13 A. The USB connector  11  is connected to the interface circuit  7  via the computer-side cable  10 . 
     The conventional interface cable is configured as described above. Hereinbelow, operation of the interface cable is described. 
     For example, to perform communication between an external apparatus and the computer C through the portable telephone T, the PDC connector unit  1  is connected to the PDC terminal of the portable telephone T, and the USB connector  11  is connected to the USB terminal of the computer C. Thereby, the interface circuit  7 , which is provided between the portable phone and the computer via each respective connector, converts information transmitted by the computer C to information readable by the portable telephone T. Also, the interface circuit  7  converts information transmitted by the portable telephone T to information readable by the computer C. This allows the computer-side information to be sent to an external apparatus through the portable telephone. Also, information transmitted by an external device can be read into the computer C through the portable telephone T. 
     In addition, using the interface cable allows information such as remote phone addresses stored in a memory of the portable telephone T to be read into the computer C and allows the edited information to be stored back in the memory of portable telephone T. 
     As described above, the interface circuit  7  is provided between the PDC connector unit  1  and the USB connector  11 . Therefore, in order to manufacture the interface cable, the PDC connector unit  1 , the interface circuit  7 , and the USB connector  11  must be individually assembled. Also, these components must be connected using two cables, namely the telephone-side cable  6  and the computer-side cable  10 . This creates a problem in that the interface cable is comprised of a large number of components, thereby reducing manufacturing productivity and increasing manufacturing costs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the problems described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an interface cable that allows the number of components and manufacturing costs to be reduced. 
     To achieve this object, the present invention provides an interface cable as described below. 
     According to one aspect, the present invention provides a device for facilitating communication between a portable terminal and a computer in which a housing defines an inner volume and has an opening. A first connector is removably connectable to one of a computer and a portable terminal and protrudes through the opening in the housing. An interface circuit is coupled to the first connector in which the interface circuit is located within the housing. A cable is coupled to the interface circuit. A second connector is removably connectable to the other. of the computer and the portable terminal. 
     According to another aspect, the present invention provides an interface device for coupling a PDC terminal with a USB terminal on a computer in which a housing defines an inner volume and has an opening. A PDC connector is removably connectable the PDC terminal. The PDC connector protrudes through the opening in the housing. An interface circuit is coupled to the PDC connector in which the interface circuit is located within the housing. A cable is coupled to the interface circuit. A USB connector is removably connectable to the computer. 
     The present invention advantageously allows the information-converting interface circuit and one of the portable-terminal-side connector and the computer-side connector to be integrally provided in a single housing. Therefore, the interface cable can be configured with fewer components than in the case where the interface circuit and the connectors are individually provided in separate housings. Accordingly, the present invention reduces assembly time, thereby improving manufacturing productivity. 
     Also, in the interface cable of the present invention, one of the portable-terminal-side connector and the computer-side connector may comprise a plurality of electrode terminals connectable to mating terminals. Also, obverse and reverse faces of a circuit board of the information-converting interface circuit may be positioned between the electrode terminals of one of the portable-terminal-side connector and the computer-side connector. The interface circuit can advantageously be positioned by using the electrode terminals of one of the connectors to surround an edge of the interface circuit board. This facilitates connection of the electrode terminals on the connector to the circuit board. 
     Also, use of the electrode terminals allows the circuit board to be positioned substantially centered heightwise with respect to the connector. Therefore, even when integrated circuits and other circuit elements are mounted on obverse and reverse faces, the circuit board can be easily stored in the connector housing. Providing circuit elements on both sides of the circuit board allows miniaturization of the circuit board. 
     In addition, in the interface cable of the present invention, one of the portable-terminal-side connector and the computer-side connector may comprise a plurality of electrode terminals connectable to mating terminals. Also, the electrode terminals of the one of the portable-terminal-side connector and the computer-side connector may be connected to an obverse face of a circuit board of the information-converting interface circuit. 
     In this case, the electrode terminals of the connector are connected to only the obverse face of the interface circuit board. This further simplifies connection manufacturing compared to the case where the electrode terminals are connected to both the obverse and reverse faces of the circuit board. 
     Therefore the interface circuit. and the other of the connectors that is separately provided can be connected by a cable having a smaller number of core wires. As such, a less-expensive cable having a reduced number of core wires can be used. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an interface cable according to the present invention together with a portable telephone and a computer that are connectable via the interface cable; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interface cable according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a partly-broken perspective view of the interface cable according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the interface cable the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the interface cable of the present invention detailing the connection between a PDC terminal and a circuit board; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the interface cable of the present invention showing an alternative connection between the PDC terminal and the circuit board; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional interface cable together with a portable telephone and a computer that are connectable via the interface cable; 
     FIG. 8 is a partly-broken perspective view of the conventional interface cable shown in FIG. 7; and 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional interface cable shown in FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  6 , a detailed description is given of an interface cable constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention. As described herein, like reference symbols refer to like elements. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-6, an integrated connector unit  21  is comprised of a personal digital cellular (PDC) connector integrated with an interface circuit. The PDC connector is connected to a PDC terminal in a portable telephone T. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, the connector unit  21  includes a connector housing  22 , a PDC connector  23 , a circuit board  24 , hooks  28 , and operation sections  29 . 
     The connector housing  22  defines the outer shape of the integrated connector unit  21 . The connector housing  22  includes a substantially rectangular shaped upper housing  22 A and a substantially rectangular shaped lower housing  22 B, defining a substantially rectangular-parallelepiped box having an open end. Width W of the connector housing  22  is determined to be substantially the same as the width of the PDC connector housing  2  in order to ensure operability of the operation section  29 . 
     The PDC connector  23  is attached on the open side of the connector housing  22  so as to be connectable to the PDC terminal in the portable telephone T. The PDC connector  23  preferably includes eight pairs of upper electrode terminals  23 A and lower electrode terminals  23 B that are vertically spaced apart from each other. As such, 16 total electrode terminals  23 A and  23 B are preferably provided therein. The upper electrode terminals  23 A and the lower electrode terminal  23 B are arranged substantially parallel with each other in the transverse (along the width) direction of the PDC connector  23 . 
     The interface circuit is provided on the circuit board  24 . The circuit board  24  is preferably formed as a rectangular and planar board and is contained within the connector housing  22 . The circuit board  24  has an obverse face  24 A and a reverse face  24 B upon each of which various integrated circuits (ICs)  25  and other circuit elements are mounted. The ICs  25  and the other circuit elements convert information transmitted by the computer C to information readable by the portable telephone T. Also, the ICs  25  and the other circuit elements convert information transmitted by the portable telephone T to information readable by the computer C. 
     Also, as shown in FIG. 4, portable-telephone-side electrode sections  26  preferably numbering eight in quantity are provided at one edge of each of the obverse face  24 A and reverse face  24 B of the circuit board  24  in the transverse (width) direction. As such, 16 total portable-telephone-side electrode sections  26  are provided on the circuit board  24 . The circuit board  24  is coupled between the upper electrode terminals  23 A and the lower electrode terminals  23 B of the PDC connector  23 . 
     When assembled, the upper electrode terminals  23 A of the connector  23  are connected with respective portable-telephone-side electrode sections  26  of the obverse face  24 A of the circuit board  24  by a method such as soldering. Similarly, the lower electrode terminals  23 B of the connector  23  are, respectively, connected with the portable-telephone-side electrode sections  26  of the reverse face  24 B. In addition, computer-side electrode sections  27  of the circuit board  24 , preferably numbering four in quantity, are provided at the opposite edge of the obverse face  24 A in the transverse direction on the circuit board  24 . The computer-side electrode sections  27  are connected to core wires  30 A of a cable  30  described below. 
     Hooks  28  are provided on the opposite lateral faces of the connector housing  22  so as to be attachable with and detachable from the PDC terminal. In an engaged state, the hooks  28  are outwardly urged by their springing characteristics. Also, an operation section  29  is provided on each of the hooks  28 . When the operation sections  29  are pressed inward as indicated by arrows A in FIG. 2, the individual hooks  28  are disengaged from the PDC terminal. 
     The cable  30  preferably connects. the integrated connector unit  21  to a universal-serial-bus (USB) connector unit  11 . The cable  30  has core wires  30 A, preferably numbering four in quantity, at one end and wires  30 B at the other end preferably numbering four in quantity that are the same as those in the computer-side cable  10 , described above. Each of the core wires  30 A is connected to a respective computer-side electrode section  27  on the circuit board  24 . Each of the core wires  30 B is connected a respective electrode terminal  13 A on the USB plug  13 . 
     A description in given of the operation of the interface cable constructed according to the present invention. 
     The interface cable of the present invention has no particular difference in its basic operation from the conventional interface cable described above. In the interface cable of the present invention, however, the PDC connector  23 , connectable to the PDC terminal of the portable telephone T, and the circuit board  24 , including the interface circuit, are integrated within the connector housing  22 . Therefore, the conventional portable-telephone-side cable  6  provided to connect the PDC connector  23  to the circuit board  24  is omitted by the present invention. 
     In addition, the number of components is advantageously reduced compared with the conventional cable where the PDC connector  23  and the circuit board  24  are separately located in different housings. The present invention therefore reduces manufacturing costs and assembly time, thereby improving the manufacturing productivity of the interface cable. 
     Also, by providing the circuit board  24  on the PDC connector  23  with 16 electrode terminals  23 A and  23 B, the circuit board  24  can be connected to the USB connector unit  11  by the cable  30  using only four core wires  30 A (and  30 B). This allows manufacturing costs to be lower than in the conventional case where the cable contains 16 core wires. 
     Also, when both ends of each of the 16 core wires are connected in the conventional cable, as many as  32  ends must be connected and soldered. However, in the case of the cable  30  that contains only four core wires  30 A (and  30 B), only eight ends need be connected. This simplifies assembly procedures, thereby improving manufacturing productivity. 
     In addition, the electrode terminals  23 A and  23 B are assembled so as to substantially surround an edge of the circuit board  24  via the obverse face  24 A and the reverse face  24 B. Therefore, during assembly, the upper electrode terminals  23 A and the lower electrode terminals  23 B can be easily soldered to the corresponding portable-telephone-side electrode sections  26  of the circuit board  24 . 
     Furthermore, using the upper electrode terminals  23 A and the lower electrode terminals  23 B allows the circuit board  24  to be substantially centered with respect to the height of PDC connector  23 . Therefore, even when the ICs  25  and other circuit elements are provided on both faces, that is, the obverse face  24 A and the reverse face  24 B, the circuit board  24  can be easily accommodated within the connector housing  22 . This allows the circuit board  24  to be miniaturized. 
     The above described arrangement provides electrode terminals  23 A and  23 B of the PDC connector  23  which substantially surround the edge of obverse face  24 A and the reverse face  24 B of the circuit board  24 . However, the present invention is not restricted solely to this arrangement. For example, a modified configuration is shown in FIG.  6 . As shown in FIG. 6, 16 portable telephone-side electrode sections  26 ′ are provided on the obverse face  24 A of the circuit board  24 . Also, electrode terminals  23 A′ and  23 B′ of a PDC connector  23 ′ are connected to the portable-telephone-side electrode sections  26 ′. 
     In the modified arrangement, connections of the electrode terminals  23 A′ and  23 B′ and the portable-telephone-side electrode sections  26 ′ are arranged in two rows on the obverse face  24 A (or the reverse face  24 B) of the circuit board  24 . However, it is also contemplated that the connections may be arranged in a single row or any other suitable pattern. 
     According to the modified arrangement, soldering is only necessary on the obverse face  24 A of the circuit board  24  to connect the electrode terminals  23 A′ and  23 B′, and the portable telephone-side electrode sections  2640  . Therefore, compared to the case where soldering must be performed or both the obverse face  24 A and reverse face  24 B, the efficiency of connection manufacturing is advantageously further improved. 
     Also, in the configuration of the described embodiment, the PDC connector  23  and the circuit board for the interface circuit are provided in a single connector housing  22 . However, it is contemplated that the circuit board and the USB connector unit on the computer side may be provided in a single housing. 
     In addition, in the described embodiment, the description refers to an example interface cable for connecting a PDC terminal on the portable telephone to a USB terminal on a computer. However, the present invention is not restricted to this described example. For example, the present invention may be applied to an interface cable for connection to a different type of portable terminal, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), instead of a portable telephone. Also, the present invention may be applied to an interface cable for connection to a different general purpose terminal in the computer, such as an IEEE-1394 terminal, instead of a USB terminal. 
     Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.