Method and means for using additional cards in a mobile station

A mobile station comprising

• an interface card slot for using an MMC-multimedia card, the MMC multimedia card having a first group of contact surfaces for data transfer and power supply;
• a first voltage supply to supply a first voltage;
• and
• data transmission means for reading data from and writing data to the MMC-card;
• wherein the interface card slot also includes:
• walls defining a first space for at least partly receiving the MMC-card;
• a first attaching means for attaching the MMC-card removably into the first space;
• a first connecting means for connecting the first voltage to a supply contact surface of the MMC-card;
• and
• a second connecting means for connecting the data transmission means to a data contact surface of the MMC-card,
• wherein the mobile station further comprises:
• a second attaching means for attaching a SIM-card (Subscriber Identification Module) removably into said first space, the SIM-card having a second group of grouped contact surfaces;
• a second voltage supply for supplying a second voltage;
• a third connecting means for connecting said second voltage to a supply contact surface of the SIM-card;
• a fourth connecting means for connecting the data transmission means to a data contact surface of the SIM-card, and
• an adapter substantially corresponding in shape and size to the MMC-card and adapted to be placed into said first space, the adapter including:
• a second space formed into the bottom of the adapter to receive the SIM-card;
• a third attaching means for attaching a SIM-card removably to said second space;
• third contact pins grouped to correspond and to make contact at least to a subset of the second group of grouped contact surfaces of the SIM-card;
• third contact surfaces grouped in a substantially same way as the contact surfaces on the MMC-card;
• and
• fifth connecting means for connecting the third contact pins to said third contact surfaces according to a certain correspondence such that when the SIM-card is received into the second space, the supply contact surface of the SIM-card is connected to at least one of the third contact surfaces and further through the first connecting means to the second voltage supply, and the data contact surface of the SIMcard is connected to at least one of the third contact surfaces and further through the second connecting means to said data transmission means.

A mobile station comprising:

• an interface card slot to mechanically and electrically connect to replaceable interface cards, of first type and of a second type, which interface cards have a certain size and contact surfaces according to their type, where the size and grouping of contact surfaces deviate from each other;
• a first contact device for making contact to the contact surface of an interface card of the first type;
• a second contact device for making contact to the contact surface of an interface card of the second type;
• means for attaching an interface card of the first type removably to the interface card slot;
• means for attaching an interface card of the second type removably to the interface card slot;
• and
• means for indicating the type of the current interface card whether the type is the first interface card or the second interface card based on the difference of the types of interface card, in order to make possible use of the indicated and attached interface card by the mobile station to be used.

A mobile station comprising:

• a first interface card slot for receiving a first interface card, the first interface card having a first group of contact surfaces;
• and
• a second interface card slot for receiving a second interface card, the second interface card a having second group of contact surfaces which differ from the first group,
• wherein the first interface card slot comprises a first group of contact pins for making contacts to at least two contact surfaces of the first interface card,
• wherein the second interface card slot comprises a second group of contact pins for making contacts to at least two contact surfaces of the second interface card, and
• wherein at least one contact pin is a shared contact pin belonging to both the first and second group of contact pins,
• the mobile station further comprising means for adapting a function of the at least one shared contact pin to be compatible with the interface card placed in the first interface card slot,
• wherein the means for adapting a function of the at least one shared contact pin to be compatible with the interface card placed in the first interface card slot are adapted to select a supply voltage and to connect the supply voltage to the interface card according to the type of the interface card.

A mobile station comprising:

• a first interface card slot for receiving a first interface card, the first interface card having a first group of contact surfaces;
• and
• a second interface card slot for receiving a second interface card, the second interface card a having second group of contact surfaces which differ from the first group,
• wherein the first interface card slot comprises a first group of contact pins for making contacts to at least two contact surfaces of the first interface card,
• wherein the second interface card slot comprises a second group of contact pins for making contacts to at least two contact surfaces of the second interface card, and
• wherein at least one contact pin is a shared contact pin belonging to both the first and second group of contact pins,
• the mobile station further comprising means for identifying an interface card placed in the first interface card slot;
• and
• means for adapting a function of the at least one shared contact pin to be compatible with the interface card placed in the first interface card slot,
• wherein the means for identifying an interface card placed in the first interface card slot are arranged to identify the interface card by a shape of the interface card.

A method for using interface cards in a mobile station, comprising:

• receiving a first interface card in a first interface card slot, said first interface card having first contact surfaces grouped in a first group;
• making contact with a first group of contact pins to at least two of the first contact surfaces;
• and
• receiving a second interface card in a second interface card slot, said second interface card having second contact surfaces grouped in a second group,
• wherein at least one of said contact pins is used as a shared contact pin to make contact to said first and second contact surfaces,
• the method further comprising adapting a function of the at least one shared contact pin to be compatible with the interface card placed in the first interface card slot;
• and
• selecting a supply voltage and connecting the supply voltage to the interface card according to the type of the interface card.

A method for using interface cards in a mobile station, comprising:

• receiving a first interface card in a first interface card slot, said first interface card having first contact surfaces grouped in a first group;
• making contact with a first group of contact pins to at least two of the first contact surfaces;
• and
• receiving a second interface card in:
• a second interface card slot, said second interface card having second contact surfaces grouped in a second group,
• wherein at least one of said contact pins is used as a shared contact pin to make contact to said first and second contact surfaces,
• the method further comprising identifying an interface card placed in the first interface card slot by a shape of the interface card.