Battery pack of a mobile communication terminal and connector for connecting the battery pack with the terminal Number:7,426,405 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

Title: Battery pack of a mobile communication terminal and connector for connecting the battery pack with the terminal

Abstract: A battery pack device with circuits for supporting additional functions such as a Karaoke function, a disease diagnosing function, and a skin beauty care function, and adapted to be detachably coupled to a mobile communication terminal, so as to perform the additional functions through the mobile communication terminal. The mobile communication terminal including the battery pack device is also disclosed. The battery pack device includes battery cells for supplying DC power to a body of the mobile communication terminal via power supply terminals, an additional circuit unit for providing additional functions to the terminal body, and a control unit for controlling an operation of the additional circuit unit while performing data transmission and reception with respect to an external device. The control unit includes an additional function processor for controlling the additional circuit unit, and a communication unit for performing data transmission and reception with respect to the terminal body.

Patent Number: 7,426,405 Issued on 09/16/2008 to Lee

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Inventors:	Lee; Min-Hwa (Seoul, KR)
Assignee:	Healthpia America (Newark, NJ)
Appl. No.:	10/532,343
Filed:	October 20, 2003
PCT Filed:	October 20, 2003
PCT No.:	PCT/KR03/02194
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date:	April 22, 2005
PCT Pub. No.:	WO2004/038943
PCT Pub. Date:	May 06, 2004

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Foreign Application Priority Data

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Oct 24, 2002 [KR]			10-2002-0065297
Dec 05, 2002 [KR]			10-2002-0077091
Mar 12, 2003 [KR]			10-2003-0015443

Current U.S. Class:	455/575.1 ; 455/550.1; 455/572; 455/90.2
Current International Class:	H04M 1/00 (20060101)
Field of Search:	455/575.1-575.9,90.2,550.1,556.1,572,574,127.1,127.5,343.5

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References Cited [Referenced By]

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U.S. Patent Documents

5535434	July 1996	Siddoway et al.
5790960	August 1998	Miyashita
6131017	October 2000	Lebby et al.
6584329	June 2003	Wendelrup et al.
6600910	July 2003	Danet et al.
6809649	October 2004	Wendelrup et al.
2001/0021663	September 2001	Sawada et al.
2002/0041175	April 2002	Lauper et al.

Foreign Patent Documents

	09-270836		Oct., 1997		JP
	10-20010019664		Mar., 2001		KR
	20-0253140		Oct., 2001		KR
	20-0291392		Sep., 2002		KR
	10-20040020730		Mar., 2004		KR
	10-20040020731		Mar., 2004		KR
	10-20040020732		Mar., 2004		KR
	10-20040020740		Mar., 2004		KR

Primary Examiner: Kincaid; Lester G.
Assistant Examiner: Zewari; Sayed T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Seyfarth Shaw, LLP

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Claims

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The invention claimed is:

1. In a mobile communication terminal including a smart card slot, a communication connector for connecting a circuit internally provided at a battery pack to a body of the mobile communication terminal, the communication connector comprising: a first connector section including a housing having an outer structure of a desired shape, and terminal members provided at the housing, each of the terminal members being electrically connected, at one end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a lower surface of a smart card, while being electrically connected, at the other end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a printed circuit board (PCB) included in the mobile communication terminal; and a second connector section including a clip member for receiving the smart card such that it is in close contact with at least a part of the lower surface of the smart card and at least a part of an upper surface of the smart card while covering the upper and lower surface parts, an upper connecting member provided at an upper surface of the clip member while having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with an associated one of terminals extending from the circuit internally provided at the battery pack to a lower surface of the battery pack, a lower connecting member provided at a lower surface of the clip member while having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with an associated one of terminals provided at the lower surface of the smart card, and an intermediate connecting member adapted to electrically connect associated terminals of the upper and lower connecting members.

2. The communication connector according to claim 1, wherein the PCB of the mobile communication terminal outputs includes a microprocessor for outputting a first enable signal to the smart card while outputting a second enable signal to the battery pack circuit.

3. The communication connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate connecting member comprises patterns printed on a surface of the clip member.

4. In a mobile communication terminal including a smart card slot, a communication connector for connecting a circuit internally provided at a battery pack to a body of the mobile communication terminal, the communication connector comprising: a first connector section including a housing having an outer structure of a desired shape, and terminal members provided at the housing, each of the terminal members being electrically connected, at one end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a lower surface of a smart card, while being electrically connected, at the other end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a printed circuit board (PCB) included in the mobile communication terminal; a guide member adapted to guide and detachably mount the smart card while having holders adapted to cover at least a part of an upper surface of the smart card, thereby holding the smart card; and a second connector section including an upper connecting member having a plurality of terminals provided at respective upper surfaces of the holders, and electrically connected with terminals extending from a circuit internally provided at the battery pack to a lower surface of the battery pack, a lower connecting member having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with one of one end or the other end of an associated one of the terminals included in the first connector section or an associated one of the terminals provided at the PCB, and an intermediate connecting member adapted to electrically connect associated terminals of the upper and lower connecting members.

5. The communication connector according to claim 4, wherein the PCB of the mobile communication terminal outputs includes a microprocessor for outputting a first enable signal to the smart card while outputting a second enable signal to the battery pack circuit.

6. The communication connector according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the intermediate connecting member comprises patterns printed on a surface of the terminal body.

7. The communication connector according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the intermediate connecting member comprises elastic members each having a bent structure.

8. In a mobile communication terminal including a smart card slot, a communication connector for connecting a circuit internally provided at a battery pack to a body of the mobile communication terminal, the communication connector comprising: a first connector section including a housing having an outer structure of a desired shape, and terminal members provided at the housing, each of the terminal members being electrically connected, at one end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a lower surface of a smart card, while being electrically connected, at the other end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a printed circuit board (PCB) included in the mobile communication terminal; and a second connector section including a clip member for receiving the smart card such that it is in close contact with at least a part of the lower surface of the smart card and at least a part of an upper surface of the smart card while covering the upper and lower surface part, an upper connecting member provided at an upper surface of the clip member while having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with an associated one of terminals extending from a circuit (not shown) internally provided at the battery pack to a lower surface of the battery pack, a lower connecting member provided at a lower surface of the clip member while having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with an associated one of battery pack circuit communication terminals provided at the PCB, and an intermediate connecting member adapted to electrically connect associated terminals of the upper and lower connecting members.

9. The communication connector according to claim 8, wherein the terminals of the lower connecting member included in the second connector section are connected with the battery pack circuit communication terminals of the PCB in a male/female board-to-board connection fashion.

10. The communication connector according to claim 8, wherein the PCB of the mobile communication terminal includes: a first buffer for buffering data transmitted between a microprocessor provided at the PCB and the smart card; and a second buffer for buffering data transmitted between the microprocessor and the battery pack circuit.

11. The communication connector according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate connecting member comprises patterns printed on a surface of the clip member.

12. In a mobile communication terminal including a smart card slot, a communication connector for connecting a circuit internally provided at a battery pack to a body of the mobile communication terminal, the communication connector comprising: a first connector section including a housing having an outer structure of a desired shape, and terminal members provided at the housing, each of the terminal members being electrically connected, at one end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a lower surface of a smart card, while being electrically connected, at the other end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a printed circuit board (PCB) included in the mobile communication terminal; a guide member adapted to guide and detachably mount the smart card while having holders adapted to cover at least a part of an upper surface of the smart card, thereby holding the smart card; and a second connector section including an upper connecting member having a plurality of terminals provided at respective upper surfaces of the holders, and electrically connected with terminals extending from a circuit internally provided at the battery pack to a lower surface of the battery pack, a lower connecting member having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with an associated one of battery pack circuit communication terminals provided at the PCB, and an intermediate connecting member adapted to electrically connect associated terminals of the upper and lower connecting members.

13. The communication connector according to claim 12, wherein the PCB of the mobile communication terminal includes: a first buffer for buffering data transmitted between a microprocessor provided at the PCB and the smart card; and a second buffer for buffering data transmitted between the microprocessor and the battery pack circuit.

14. The communication connector according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the intermediate connecting member comprises patterns printed on a surface of the terminal body.

15. The communication connector according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the intermediate connecting member comprises elastic members each having a bent structure.

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Description

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The present invention claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2002-0065297, filed in Korea on Oct. 24, 2002, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2002-0077091, filed in Korea on Dec. 2, 2002, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2003-0015443, filed in Korea on Mar. 12, 2003, and International Application No. PCT/KR2003/002194, filed on Oct. 20, 2003, which are all hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly to a functional battery pack provided with circuits for supporting additional functions, for example, a Karaoke function, a disease diagnosing function, a skin beauty care function, etc., and adapted to be detachably coupled to a mobile communication terminal, so as to perform the additional functions through the mobile communication terminal. The present invention is applicable to a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a portable terminal having an additional function such as an MP3 player function, which are configured such that a battery pack is detachably coupled thereto.

BACKGROUND ART

Incorporation of an additional optional circuit into a battery pack has been proposed in order to extend the function of a mobile communication terminal. Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. Heisei 9-270836 laid open on Oct. 14, 1997 discloses an additional device implemented by a radio circuit installed in a battery pack detachably coupled to a mobile communication terminal. Also, Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2110-19664 laid open on Mar. 15, 2001 in the name of Taejin Kim discloses an audio player including an MP3 codec and a flash memory module incorporated into the battery pack of a mobile communication terminal, while being controlled by a user interface included in the mobile communication terminal.

In association with such techniques, the applicant has proposed a battery pack device capable of supporting various functions such as low frequency therapy, ultrasonic beauty care, and body impedance measurement in a state of being coupled to a mobile communication terminal. Such a battery pack device is disclosed in Korean Patent Application Nos. 2002-53004, 2002-52994, 2002-52995, and 2002-52996 filed on Sep. 3, 2002. Such a battery pack device is configured by incorporating desired probes and associated driving circuits into a battery pack. The battery pack device can also communicate with a mobile communication terminal in a state of being coupled to the mobile communication terminal. The battery pack device can support the above mentioned functions in accordance with operations of the circuits thereof controlled by an application program executed in the mobile communication terminal.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the configuration of a beauty care apparatus disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2002-53004 as an embodiment relating to a mobile phone having ultrasonic and low frequency therapy functions.

This beauty care apparatus includes probes for ultrasonic/low frequency therapy installed on the outer surface of a battery pack. The user may select an ultrasonic therapy function from a function menu displayed on a mobile communication terminal, to which the battery pack is coupled. After selecting a desired level of the ultrasonic therapy function, the user may enter a start command. When the user subsequently brings the ultrasonic probes electrodes into contact with the skin, for example, the skin of the face, the beauty care apparatus detects this contact, thereby supplying ultrasonic waves to ultrasonic probes 130 and 140. The beauty care apparatus also includes first and second control units 100 and 150 adapted to perform data transmission and reception therebetween via a communication interface 30. The first control unit 100 drives an ultrasonic driver 120 and a low frequency driver 110 in accordance with a command from the second control unit 150.

Such a multi-functional integrated battery pack device must communicate with the body of the mobile communication terminal. Also, the terminal body should include an application program adapted to be executed, for example, under a virtual machine-based environment, so as to control the user interface of the terminal body. The application program must perform data transmission and reception with respect to the battery pack device. For instance, the terminal body should transmit a control command to the battery pack device, and receive data obtained in accordance with the control command.

For the provision of the above mentioned probes, however, it is necessary to modify the mold for manufacturing the body of the mobile communication terminal. As a result, a considerable increase in the manufacturing cost of the mobile communication terminal. Furthermore, taking into consideration the fact that currently available mobile communication terminals have a compact structure, addition of such elements having a relatively large size causes a considerable increase in the size of the mobile communication terminal, to which the elements are added.

Furthermore, various problems may occur when the above mentioned multi-functional integrated battery pack device is practically implemented. This will be described hereinafter. Most mobile communication terminals support a power supply management function in order to extend the life of a battery while protecting the battery. This function includes a power saving function for controlling the voltage level of electric power or the interval of clocks supplied to the main control unit and peripheral units of a terminal in accordance with the operating condition of the terminal, in order to control the consumption of the electric power. However, such a power saving function cannot be supported for an integrated battery pack device, so that the integrated battery pack device has a problem associated with management of electric power. That is, circuits installed in such a battery pack device excessively consume electric power because they are always in an active state so that they perform their intrinsic additional functions when those functions are required.

Meanwhile, a smart card, in which an IC including a microprocessor, an operating system, a security module, and a memory is installed, for storage, computation, and security functions, is widely used as means for recording of information, identification of personal character, and payment in most social fields including communication, banking, education, administration, and traffic fields.

In an application thereof to a mobile communication terminal, a representative example of such a smart card is a subscriber identity module for providing a roaming service. For a smart card usable as such a subscriber identity module, there are subscriber identity module (SIM), universal subscriber identity module (USIM), user identity module (UIM), and removable user identity module (RUIM) cards. In a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) system, which is a mobile communication system adopted in Europe, the SIM card is applied as a subscriber identity module which may be an interface between a mobile phone and a network, in order to cope with replacement of a terminal or replacement of a communication service provider. Such an SIM card stores therein user's information including a user's phone number. Accordingly, once a mobile phone, to which such an SIM card is mounted, is turned on, it can transmit information stored in the SIM card to a communication service provider via a network. After a use approval by the communication service provider, the user can normally use the mobile phone. The USIM card is a smart card making a mobile phone or computer to be applicable to a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) capable of allowing the user of the mobile phone or computer to transmit texts based on broadband packets, digitalized audio and video, and multimedia data at a bit rate of 2 Mbps or more, in any place in the world. Such a USIM card is installed in a terminal commercially available for international mobile communications (IMT)-2000 services. This USIM card can store therein user data along with secret authentication data. The UIM card is a smart card developed to improve the SIM card of the Europe GSM so as to make the SIM be applicable to a second-generation code division multiple access (CDMA) system. The RUIM card is a detachable smart card developed to make the SIM be applicable to a third-generation CDMA system.

Another application example of a smart card to a mobile communication terminal is the case in which the smart card is used as diverse payment means such as electronic cash (for example, a traffic card) and a credit card. In such a case, 13 connecting terminals of the smart card are electrically connected to the mobile communication terminal, and 2 connecting terminals of the smart card are connected to a radio frequency (RF) antenna installed in the mobile communication terminal, so that the smart card can be used, for example, to pay a charge such as a traffic fare on time, based on charge payment information transmitted between the smart card and an external interface (card reader) in accordance with a communication function of the mobile communication terminal.

Meanwhile, various techniques for mounting a smart card to a mobile communication terminal have been known prior to the filing of the present invention (FIGS. 18 to 22). Referring to FIG. 18, a connector is used for an electrical connection between terminals 1831 provided at the lower surface of a smart card 1830 and terminals 1841 provided at a printed circuit board 1840 mounted to the body of a mobile communication terminal. This connector includes a housing 1810 having an outer structure of a certain shape, and a plurality of terminals 1820 each electrically connected, at one end thereof, to an associated one of the terminals 1831 provided at the lower surface of the smart card 1830, while being electrically connected, at the other end thereof, to an associated one of the terminals 1841 provided at the printed circuit board 1840 of the mobile communication terminal.

FIGS. 19 to 22 illustrate techniques for guiding and detachably mounting a smart card to a seat provided at the rear surface of a mobile communication terminal, respectively. Referring to FIG. 19, a recessed seat 1911 is provided at a rear surface 1910 of a mobile communication terminal. The recessed seat 1911 has a certain depth so that it receives a smart card 1920. The recessed seat 1911 guides the smart card 1920 to receive the smart card 1920. The smart card 1920 is firmly held in a state of being received in the recessed seat 1911 by means of a thin metal plate 1930. Separation preventing protrusions 2038 may also be provided at the rear surface of the mobile communication terminal, so as to assist the thin metal plate 2070 to be held in the recessed seat 1911, as shown in FIG. 20.

Referring to FIG. 21, terminals 2131 made of an elastic material are mounted to a bottom surface 2112 of the connector housing such that they are upwardly protruded. The terminals 2131 serve to apply an upward force to a smart card in a state in which the smart card is mounted on the bottom surface 2112 of the connector housing. Card guiders 2121 are provided at opposite sides of the connector housing while being upwardly spaced apart from the bottom surface 2112 of the connector housing. The card guiders 2121 serve to prevent the smart card from being upwardly separated from the connector housing. Thus, the smart card is firmly mounted on the bottom surface 2112 of the connector housing. Of course, the smart card is guided to be mounted on the bottom surface 2112 of the connector housing by opposite lateral walls 2114 of the connector housing.

FIG. 22 illustrates a technique in which a guide unit is provided at a connector housing 2220 while including a mounting member for detachably mounting a smart card by covering at least a part of the upper surface of the smart card. That is, guide rails 2240 and card holding members 2250 are formed at the connector housing 2200 such that they are integral with the connector housing 2200, as shown in FIG. 22.

In accordance with the present invention, a connector is implemented which serves to connect a circuit installed in a battery pack to a mobile communication terminal to which a smart card is mounted. Where an interface structure separate from the smart card mounting structure shown in any one of FIGS. 18 to 22 is used to connect the circuit of the battery pack to the body of the mobile communication terminal, there are problems of an increase in the manufacturing cost of the mobile communication terminal and an increase in the size of the mobile communication terminal. Furthermore, the mobile communication terminal maker encounters a problem in that a separate manufacturing line should be installed in order to manufacture mobile communication terminals adapted to use the above mentioned circuit-installed battery pack.

Therefore, in the case of implementing a connector for the circuit installed in the battery pack, it is most important to make the circuit installed in the battery pack be connected to the body of the mobile communication terminal without any considerable modification of the existing smart card mounting structure.

In accordance with the known smart card mounting techniques, once the smart card is mounted to the mobile communication terminal, the terminals provided at the lower surface of the smart card are electrically connected with the terminals provided at the body of the mobile communication terminal, so that the smart card is connected with a microprocessor installed in the terminal body for communications therebetween. In other words, the conventional techniques are limited only to smart card mounting. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a concrete scheme for connecting the terminals of the circuit, arranged at the surface of the battery pack to come into contact with the terminal body, to the terminal body.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above mentioned problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a mobile communication terminal configured to allow a battery pack including circuits for supporting additional functions to be detachably coupled thereto, while minimizing a mold modification thereof and an increase in an addition of elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-functional integrated battery pack device having an additional function for efficiently managing the consumption of electric power thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a communication connector for connecting a circuit internally installed in a battery pack to the body of a mobile communication terminal.

Another object of the invention is to connect a circuit internally installed in a battery pack to the body of a mobile communication terminal without any considerable modification of an existing smart card mounting structure.

In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a battery pack device for a mobile communication terminal comprising: at least one battery cell for supplying a DC power to a body of the mobile communication terminal via power supply terminals; an additional circuit unit for providing additional functions to the terminal body; and a control unit for controlling an operation of the additional circuit unit while performing data transmission and reception with respect to an external device, the control unit including an additional function processor for controlling the additional circuit unit, and a communication unit for performing data transmission and reception with respect to the terminal body, the communication unit including a communication controller for transforming data obtained in accordance with a data processing operation of the additional function processing unit into data having a predetermined transmission format, while supplying data, externally received thereto, to the additional function processor as an operating command, a modulator/demodulator for performing a modulation/demodulation for data to be sent to the communication controller or received from the communication controller, and a transmitter/receiver for receiving modulated data received from the modulator/demodulator while transmitting data, to be demodulated, to the modulator/demodulator.

In accordance with this aspect, the battery pack device has an advantage in that the transmitter/receiver, which is externally exposed, may be freely-modified by addition of a simple modulating/demodulating circuit, because the battery pack device communicates with the mobile communication terminal in a state of being approximate to the mobile communication terminal without being directly connected with the mobile communication terminal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the transmitter/receiver includes a choke filter connected between the battery cell and the power supply terminals, and a capacitance element connected, at one end thereof, to a line branching from a line between the choke filter and the power supply terminals, and adapted to cut off DC components.

In accordance with this aspect, the battery pack device has an advantage in that it can communicate with the terminal body only by addition of a very simple analog element thereto and addition of a modulator/demodulator of a relatively very low level, without any separate terminal for data transmission and reception.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the transmitter/receiver is a coil arranged in the form of a plate extending along a coupling surface of the battery pack device to be coupled with a facing coupling surface of the terminal body so that it faces a coil arranged at the coupling surface of the terminal body in a state in which the battery pack device is coupled to the terminal body, thereby forming a transformer.

In the battery pack device according to this aspect of the present invention, for data transmission and reception, the coil thereof is attached to the surface of the battery pack device facing the terminal body such that it is arranged in the form of a plate extending along the surface of the battery pack device. In accordance with an inductive coupling of the coil to the coil of the terminal body, data communication can be achieved between the battery pack device and the terminal body. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the battery pack device can communicate with the terminal body simply by addition of a very simple analog element thereto and addition of a modulator/demodulator of a very low level, without any modification of the mold for fabricating the battery pack device. Since the coils forming a transformer are arranged to be closely approximate to each other, the modulators/demodulators of the battery pack device and terminal body can adopt an FM system of a relatively low frequency.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the modulator/demodulator is a Bluetooth RF transmitting/receiving module.

In the battery pack device according to this aspect of the present invention, there are advantages in that it is possible to minimize provision of additional circuits, and it is unnecessary to modify the mold used to fabricate the terminal body, because the battery pack device is connected to a multipoint communication means used in the existing mobile communication terminal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the transmitter/receiver is an infrared transmitter/receiver installed at an opening formed at a coupling surface of the battery pack to be coupled with a facing coupling surface of the terminal body.

In the battery pack device according to this aspect of the present invention, there are advantages in that it is possible to minimize provision of additional circuits, and it is unnecessary to modify the mold used to fabricate the terminal body.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the transmitter/receiver includes connecting pins protruded from the battery pack device, and adapted to elastically come into electrical contact with an electrode plate installed at the terminal body.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the battery pack device further comprises a detecting unit for detecting the amount of electric power supplied to the power supply terminals. The control unit further includes a power controller for controlling respective power consumption levels of circuits internally provided at the battery pack device in accordance with the amount of electric power detected by the detecting unit.

In the battery pack device, which is detachably coupled to the terminal body while including circuits for providing additional functions, the power consumption of the additional function providing circuits can be managed, based on the power management mode of the terminal body, in accordance with this aspect of the present invention. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently manage the consumption of electric power in accordance with the operating mode of the terminal body selected by the user.

Furthermore, even when it is difficult to inform the battery pack device of the power management mode of the terminal body, it is possible to efficiently manage the power consumption of the battery pack device by detecting the electric power supplied from the battery pack device to the terminal body.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the battery pack device further comprises a power controller for controlling respective power consumption levels of circuits internally provided at the battery pack device in accordance with a power management mode command from the terminal body received via the communication unit.

In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, the terminal body informs the battery pack device of the current power management mode at the request of the battery pack device. Based on the current power management mode, the battery pack device can control its power management mode. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently manage the power consumption of the battery pack device without addition of any separate additional circuit for power management.

In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides, in a mobile communication terminal including a smart card slot, a communication connector for connecting a circuit internally provided at a battery pack to a body of the mobile communication terminal, the communication connector comprising: a first connector section including a housing having an outer structure of a desired shape, and terminal members provided at the housing, each of the terminal members being electrically connected, at one end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a lower surface of a smart card, while being electrically connected, at the other end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a printed circuit board (PCB) included in the mobile communication terminal; and a second connector section including a clip member for receiving the smart card such that it is in close contact with at least a part of the lower surface of the smart card and at least a part of an upper surface of the smart card while covering the upper and lower surface parts, an upper connecting member provided at an upper surface of the clip member while having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with an associated one of terminals extending from the circuit internally provided at the battery pack to a lower surface of the battery pack, a lower connecting member provided at a lower surface of the clip member while having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with an associated one of terminals provided at the lower surface of the smart card, and an intermediate connecting member adapted to electrically connect associated terminals of the upper and lower connecting members.

In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to electrically connect the terminals of the battery pack circuit to associated terminals of the PCB included in the mobile communication terminal by use of upper and lower connecting members included in the clip member, without any modification of the existing smart card mounting structure adapted to mount the smart card while electrically connecting terminals provided at the lower surface of the smart card to associated communication terminals of the microprocessor included in the mobile communication terminal, by inserting the smart card in the clip member, for example, forcibly fitting the smart card in the clip member.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the PCB of the mobile communication terminal outputs includes a microprocessor for outputting a first enable signal to the smart card while outputting a second enable signal to the battery pack circuit.

In response to an enable signal from the microprocessor included in the mobile communication terminal body, only an associated one of the smart card and battery pack circuit operates. Accordingly, although the terminals provided at the smart card and the terminals of the battery pack circuit are electrically connected to the same terminals of the mobile communication terminal body, it is possible to prevent collision of data, being transmitted, in a software manner.

In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides, in a mobile communication terminal including a smart card slot, a communication connector for connecting a circuit internally provided at a battery pack to a body of the mobile communication terminal, the communication connector comprising: a first connector section including a housing having an outer structure of a desired shape, and terminal members provided at the housing, each of the terminal members being electrically connected, at one end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a lower surface of a smart card, while being electrically connected, at the other end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a printed circuit board (PCB) included in the mobile communication terminal; a guide member adapted to guide and detachably mount the smart card while having holders adapted to cover at least a part of an upper surface of the smart card, thereby holding the smart card; and a second connector section including an upper connecting member having a plurality of terminals provided at respective upper surfaces of the holders, and electrically connected with terminals extending from a circuit internally provided at the battery pack to a lower surface of the battery pack, a lower connecting member having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with one of one end or the other end of an associated one of the terminals included in the first connector section or an associated one of the terminals provided at the PCB, and an intermediate connecting member adapted to electrically connect associated terminals of the upper and lower connecting members.

In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to electrically connect the terminals of the battery pack circuit to associated terminals of the PCB included in the mobile communication terminal by electrically connecting the terminals of the battery pack circuit to respective upper surfaces of holders included, to cover at least a part of the upper surface of the smart card, in the existing smart card mounting structure adapted to mount the smart card while electrically connecting terminals provided at the lower surface of the smart card to associated communication terminals of the microprocessor included in the mobile communication terminal, while using the existing connection configuration for the terminals of the PCB.

In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides, in a mobile communication terminal including a smart card slot, a communication connector for connecting a circuit internally provided at a battery pack to a body of the mobile communication terminal, the communication connector comprising: a first connector section including a housing having an outer structure of a desired shape, and terminal members provided at the housing, each of the terminal members being electrically connected, at one end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a lower surface of a smart card, while being electrically connected, at the other end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a printed circuit board (PCB) included in the mobile communication terminal; and a second connector section including a clip member for receiving the smart card such that it is in close contact with at least a part of the lower surface of the smart card and at least a part of an upper surface of the smart card while covering the upper and lower surface part, an upper connecting member provided at an upper surface of the clip member while having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with an associated one of terminals extending from a circuit (not shown) internally provided at the battery pack to a lower surface of the battery pack, a lower connecting member provided at a lower surface of the clip member while having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with an associated one of battery pack circuit communication terminals provided at the PCB, and an intermediate connecting member adapted to electrically connect associated terminals of the upper and lower connecting members.

In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to electrically connect the terminals of the battery pack circuit to respective terminals separately provided at the PCB included in the mobile communication terminal by use of the upper and lower connecting members included in the clip member, without any modification of the existing smart card mounting structure adapted to mount the smart card while electrically connecting terminals provided at the lower surface of the smart card to the associated communication terminals of the microprocessor included in the mobile communication terminal, by inserting the smart card in the clip member, for example, forcibly fitting the smart card in the clip member. In this case, the housing of the mobile communication terminal body may be designed in such a manner that the space defined therein to receive the smart card is increased by the thickness of the clip member. Where the housing of the mobile communication terminal body has an elasticity, it is usable as it is, without any modification of the space thereof for receiving the smart card. Also, it is only required that the hole formed at the housing to externally expose a required connector section, for example, the first connector section in the conventional connector, has a width increased to provide a space for electrical connection between the lower connecting members of the clip member and the terminals of the PCB.

In association with the PCB, there is only a requirement for the PCB to be additionally provided with terminals for communication with the battery pack circuit. In order to minimize an increase in the size of the PCB while achieving a firm electrical connection, male and female board-to-board connectors may be used which are conventionally used in designing a mobile communication terminal circuit.

In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides, in a mobile communication terminal including a smart card slot, a communication connector for connecting a circuit internally provided at a battery pack to a body of the mobile communication terminal, the communication connector comprising: a first connector section including a housing having an outer structure of a desired shape, and terminal members provided at the housing, each of the terminal members being electrically connected, at one end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a lower surface of a smart card, while being electrically connected, at the other end thereof, with an associated one of terminals provided at a printed circuit board (PCB) included in the mobile communication terminal; a guide member adapted to guide and detachably mount the smart card while having holders adapted to cover at least a part of an upper surface of the smart card, thereby holding the smart card; and a second connector section including an upper connecting member having a plurality of terminals provided at respective upper surfaces of the holders, and electrically connected with terminals extending from a circuit internally provided at the battery pack to a lower surface of the battery pack, a lower connecting member having a plurality of terminals each electrically connected with an associated one of battery pack circuit communication terminals provided at the PCB, and an intermediate connecting member adapted to electrically connect associated terminals of the upper and lower connecting members.

In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to electrically connect the terminals of the battery pack circuit to respective terminals separately provided at the PCB included in the mobile communication terminal by use of the upper and lower connecting members included in the clip member by electrically connecting the terminals of the battery pack circuit to respective upper surfaces of holders included, to cover at least a part of the upper surface of a smart card, in the existing smart card mounting structure adapted to mount the smart card while electrically connecting terminals provided at the lower surface of the smart card to associated communication terminals of the microprocessor included in the mobile communication terminal, while using upper and lower connecting members (according to the present invention. For the upper and lower connecting members, elastic members having a bent structure or patterns may be used. Accordingly, it is possible to very simply implement the above described electrical connection. In association with the PCB, there is only a requirement for the PCB to be additionally provided with terminals for communication with the battery pack circuit.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the PCB of the mobile communication terminal includes a first buffer for buffering data transmitted between a microprocessor provided at the PCB and the smart card, and a second buffer for buffering data transmitted between the microprocessor and the battery pack circuit.

Since the mobile communication terminal communicates with both the smart card and the battery pack circuit, buffers may be used to buffer data transmitted during the communication in accordance with the present invention. In this case, the microprocessor of the mobile communication terminal can smoothly communicate with both the smart card and the battery pack circuit.

The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after reading the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the entire configuration of a beauty care apparatus disclosed in the application previously filed in the name of the applicant;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the entire configuration of a mobile communication terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3a is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a transmitter/receiver according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3b is a block diagram schematically illustrating respective configurations of a modulator/demodulator and the transmitter/receiver according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a transmitter/receiver according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the appearance of a beauty care apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in the form of front, side and rear views;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the entire structure of the beauty care apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a mobile communication terminal including a battery pack device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8 to 11 are sectional views respectively illustrating various examples of a communication connector for connecting a circuit internally provided at a battery pack and the body of a mobile communication terminal in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating the connection of a microprocessor included in the terminal body with the battery pack circuit and a smart card in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13 to 15 are sectional views respectively illustrating additional examples of the communication connector for connecting the battery pack circuit and the terminal body in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating the connection of the microprocessor included in the terminal body with the battery pack circuit and the smart card in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating the structure of the communication connector according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 18 to 22 are views respectively illustrating configurations for mounting the smart card to the terminal body.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the entire configuration of a mobile communication terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile communication terminal according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which may be a mobile phone, includes a terminal body or phone body 10, and a battery pack device 20.

The terminal body 10 includes a keypad 250, a display unit 260, which may be, for example, an LCD, an RF communication unit 170, which may be, for example, a CDMA communication module, a main control unit 283 for controlling the units of the terminal body 10, and a power supply unit 240 for processing a DC power received from a battery pack via power supply terminals, and supplying the processed power to the entire system part. Since this configuration is identical to those of a conventional mobile phone, and well known in the technical field prior to the filing of the present invention, no further description will be given.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the terminal body 10 also includes an additional function processing unit 282 for processing an additional function of the battery pack device 20, and a communication unit 281 for performing data transmission and reception with respect to the battery pack device 20.

The additional function processing unit 282 is implemented by program codes based on a virtual machine for mobile communication terminals, for example, a general virtual machine (GVM) or a BREU. For example, the additional function processing unit 282 controls an operation for displaying a menu through the display unit 260, and transmitting a command to the battery pack device 20 in response to a select signal from the keypad 250, in order to initiate a control operation associated with the command. In the case in which the mobile communication terminal is applied to a diagnosing apparatus, the additional function processing unit 282 also controls an operation for receiving and processing data measured by the battery pack device 20, and displaying the resultant data on the display unit 260.

The communication unit 281 includes a communication controller 281a for transforming the data obtained in accordance with the data processing operation of the additional function processing unit 282 into data having a desired transmission format, while supplying data received from the battery pack device 20 to the additional function processing unit 282. The communication unit 281 also includes a modulator/demodulator 281b for performing a modulation/demodulation for data to be sent to the communication controller 281a or received from the communication controller 281a, and a transmitter/receiver 281c for receiving modulated data received from the modulator/demodulator 281b while transmitting data, to be demodulated, to the modulator/demodulator 281b.

Each of the additional function processing unit 282, communication controller 281a, and main control unit 283 may be implemented by program codes. In this case, the program codes may be executed by a single microprocessor included in a main control chip installed in the terminal body 10.

Now, the battery pack device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the battery pack device 20 includes a plurality of battery cells 230 for supplying a DC power to the terminal body 10 through power supply terminals 40, an additional circuit unit 220 for providing an additional function to the terminal body 10, and a first control unit 210 for controlling operation of the additional circuit unit 220 while performing data transmission and reception with respect to an external device.

Since the battery cells 230 and power supply terminals 40 have conventional configurations, no further description thereof will be given. The additional circuit unit 220 includes essential circuits for implementing additional functions such as music playback, therapy, and diagnosis. For example, the circuit unit 220 may include actuators or sensors such as probes or electrodes, analog circuits such as an amplifying circuit or an oscillating circuit required to supply drive signals from the actuators or sensors or drive signals to the actuators or sensors, an analog/digital converter, and a simple digital logic circuit. An example of such an additional circuit unit is illustrated in FIG. 1 associated with a conventional technique.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first control unit 210 includes an additional function processor 212 for controlling the additional circuit unit 220, and a communication unit 211 for performing data transmission and reception with respect to the terminal body 10. The additional function processor 212 may analyze a command from the terminal body 10 received via the communication unit 211, thereby directly controlling the hardware of the additional circuit unit 220. For example, where the battery pack device 20 is applied to a diagnosing apparatus, the additional function processor 212 may process data measured by the additional circuit unit 220, and transmits the resultant data to the terminal body 10 via the communication unit 211. Where the battery pack device 20 is applied to a music player, the additional function processor 212 may read out sound data from a flash memory included in the additional circuit unit 220, decompresses the read sound data, and transmits the resultant data to the terminal body 10 via the communication unit 211. In this case, the additional function processor 212 may receive a command from the terminal body 10, and performs a processing operation for transmitting a directory of sound files or playing back or deleting a desired file in accordance with the received command.

The communication unit 211 includes a communication controller 211a for transforming the data obtained in accordance with the data processing operation of the additional function processor 212 into data having a desired transmission format, while supplying data, externally received thereto, to the additional function processor 212 as an operating command. The communication unit 211 also includes a modulator/demodulator 211b for performing a modulation/demodulation for data to be sent to the communication controller 211a or received from the communication controller 211a, and a transmitter/receiver 211c for receiving modulated data received from the modulator/demodulator 211b while transmitting data, to be demodulated, to the modulator/demodulator 211b.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, most logic of the communication controller 211a is implemented in a software fashion in a microprocessor while using one or two of the serial ports integrated in the microprocessor in the form of a single chip. Accordingly, most logics of the additional function processor 212 and communication controller 211a are practically implemented by the same processor. Also, the modulator/demodulator 211b may be implemented by a simple analog circuit or a miniature single chip.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the modulator/demodulator and transmitter/receiver according to various aspects of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 3a illustrates the appearance of a transmitter/receiver according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3b schematically illustrates respective configurations of the modulator/demodulator and transmitter/receiver according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3a, the transmitters/receivers 211c and 281c according to the first embodiment of the present invention do not include any separate communication interface terminal. In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, the power supply terminals 40 connected between the battery pack device 20 and the terminal body 10 are used as the communication interface terminals for the transmitters/receivers 211c and 281c.

As shown in FIG. 3b, the transmitter/receiver 211c of the battery pack device 20 includes a choke filter 315 connected between the battery cells 230 and the power supply terminals of the battery pack device 20. The power supply terminals are designated by the reference numeral 31 in FIG. 3b. The transmitter/receiver 211c also includes a capacitance element connected, at one end thereof, to a line branching from a line between the choke filter 315 and the power supply terminals 31. The capacitance element may be, for example, a capacitor 316.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3b, the transmitter/receiver 281c of the terminal body 10 includes a choke filter 311 connected between the power supply unit 240 and the power supply terminals of the terminal body 10. The power supply terminals are designated by the reference numeral 32 in FIG. 3b. The transmitter/receiver 281c also includes a capacitance element connected, at one end thereof, to a line branching from a line between the choke filter 311 and the power supply terminals 32. The capacitance element may be, for example, a capacitor 312.

The choke filters 311 and 315 are adapted to cut off communication data, thereby removing noise from a DC power to be supplied to the battery cells 230 and power supply unit 240 associated therewith, respectively. The capacitors 312 and 316 are adapted to cut off DC components. A modem 313 is connected between the capacitor 312 and the communication controller 281a in the terminal body 10, whereas a modem 317 is connected between the capacitor 316 and the communication controller 211a in the battery