Patent ID: 7210845

Claim:
A portable electronic instrument including a case, at least one electronic unit housed inside said case, and at least a first input and/or output terminal accessible from the exterior of said case and including an electrically conductive element which is mounted so as to be mobile with respect to said case, said at least first input and/or output terminal being adapted to be electrically connected to an input and/or output terminal of said electronic unit via a transmission line and for allowing transmission of electric signals on said transmission line through said connecting element, said connecting element being able to occupy a first or second position in which said at least first input and/or output terminal is respectively uncoupled from or coupled to said input and/or output terminal of the electronic unit; wherein said portable electronic instrument also includes: a transmission gate inserted on said transmission line between said at least first input and/or output terminal and said input and/or output terminal of the electronic unit, said transmission gate having a transmitting and non-transmitting state allowing said at least first input and/or output terminal to be respectively coupled to or uncoupled from said input and/or output terminal of the electronic unit; and a protective element against electrostatic charges inserted on said transmission line between said at least first input and/or output terminal and said transmission gate.