Mobile electronic apparatus, and battery pack for the apparatus

Abstract

A mobile electronic apparatus in which various functions can be easily added without impairing the mobility and without making any change in the hardware. The mobile electronic apparatus is carried by its authorized user to perform various types of electrical information processing, and has an attachment part detachably attached to a main body of the apparatus for performing a predetermined function, which attachment part has an input/output section for inputting/outputting information. The apparatus also has an interface section for transferring input/output signals relating to the information between the attachment part and the main body. The invention is applicable in mobile electronic apparatus having an attachment part detachably attached thereto, internet appliances such as cell phones, mobile electronic information terminals, and PDAs.

1 . A mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising: 
 a main body;    an attachment part detachably attached to said main body for performing a predetermined function when attached to said main body;    an input section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;    an extracting section, which is formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person; and    an interface section, disposed between said main body and said attachment part, for sending said biometric feature information from said extracting section to said main body.    
   
   
       2 . A mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising: 
 a main body;    an attachment part detachably attached to said main body for performing a predetermined function when attached to said main body;    an input section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;    an extracting section, formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person;    a comparing/verifying section, formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said extracting section, for verifying the object person by comparing said biometric feature information extracted by said extracting section with reference biometric feature information about the authorized user which information is previously obtained; and    an interface section, disposed between said main body and said attachment part, for sending the result of verification by said comparing/verifying section to said main body.    
   
   
       3 . A mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising: 
 a main body;    an attachment part detachably attached to said main body for performing a predetermined function when attached to said main body;    an input section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;    an extracting section, formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person;    a comparing/verifying section, formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said extracting section, for verifying the object person by comparing said biometric feature information extracted by said extracting section with reference biometric feature information about the authorized user which information is previously obtained;    a storing section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for storing personal data of the authorized person;    a personal data read-out section, formed integrally with said attachment part and operatively connected with said storing section and said comparing/verifying section, for reading out said personal data from said storing section when said biometric feature information of the object person is identical with said reference biometric feature information of the authorized user as the result of verification by said comparing/verifying section; and    an interface section, disposed between said main body and said attachment part, for sending to said main body said personal data, which is read out from said storing section by said personal data read-out section.    
   
   
       4 . A mobile electronic apparatus which is able to be carried by an authorized user for performing various electronic information processes, comprising: 
 a main body;    a battery pack detachably attached to said main body for performing a predetermined function when attached to said main body;    an input section, formed integrally with said battery pack, for measuring biometric information of an object person to be verified and inputting the measured biometric information;    an extracting section, formed integrally with said battery pack and operatively connected with said input section, for extracting biometric feature information from said biometric information, which is measured and input by said input section, for verification of the object person;    a comparing/verifying section, formed integrally with said battery pack and operatively connected with said extracting section, for verifying the object person by comparing said biometric feature information extracted by said extracting section with (previously registered) reference biometric feature information about the authorized user;    a storing section, formed integrally with said battery pack, for storing personal data of the authorized person;    a personal data read-out section, formed integrally with said battery pack and operatively connected with said storing section and said comparing/verifying section, for reading out said personal data from said storing section when said biometric feature information of the object person is identical with said reference biometric feature information of the authorized user as the result of verification by said comparing/verifying section;    a signal synthesizing circuit, formed integrally with said battery pack and operatively connected therewith, for carrying said personal data, which is read out by said personal data read-out section, onto a supply power voltage from said battery pack to said main body as a voltage signal;    a signal separating circuit, mounted on said main body, for separating said voltage signal carried on said supply power voltage to pick up said personal data; and    a converting section, mounted on said main body, for converting said personal data, which is separated and picked up by said signal separating section, into a key-input-pattern signal.    
   
   
       5 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a storage section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for storing said reference biometric feature information which is previously obtained.  
   
   
       6 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a storage section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for storing said reference biometric feature information which is previously obtained.  
   
   
       7 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a storage section, formed integrally with said battery pack, for storing previously obtained said reference biometric feature information which is previously obtained.  
   
   
       8 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a medium interface section adapted to be operatively connected with a portable memory medium which stores said reference biometric feature information previously obtained; and    a feature information read-out section, operatively connected with said medium interface section, for reading out said reference biometric feature information from said portable memory medium via said medium interface section;    said medium interface section and said feature information read-out section being formed integrally with said attachment part.    
   
   
       9 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a medium interface section adapted to be operatively connected with a portable memory medium which stores said reference biometric feature information previously obtained; and    a feature information read-out section, operatively connected with said medium interface section, for reading out said reference biometric feature information from said portable memory medium via said medium interface section;    said medium interface section and a feature information read-out section being formed integrally with said attachment part.    
   
   
       10 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a medium interface section adapted to be operatively connected with a portable memory medium which stores said reference biometric feature information previously obtained; and    a feature information read-out section, operatively connected with said medium interface section, for reading out said reference biometric feature information from said portable memory medium via said medium interface section;    said medium interface section and a feature information read-out section being formed integrally with said battery pack.    
   
   
       11 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said portable memory medium is an IC card.  
   
   
       12 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said portable memory medium is an IC card.  
   
   
       13 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said portable memory medium is an IC card.  
   
   
       14 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a communications section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for receiving said reference biometric feature information from an external apparatus.  
   
   
       15 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a communications section, formed integrally with said attachment part, for receiving said reference biometric feature information from an external apparatus.  
   
   
       16 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a communications section, formed integrally with said battery pack, for receiving said reference biometric feature information from an external apparatus.  
   
   
       17 . A mobile electronic apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said battery pack includes a battery which is detachable and replaceable.