Improvements relating to mobile phones

Abstract

Abstract of Disclosure The invention is directed to a digital mobile phone of a type using a subscriber identification module, the improvement being that there is an externally attached holder for at least two subscriber identification modules so that either can be readily selected by a switch for use in the same phone. There are also described flexible circuits that are used to connect the electrical contacts used conventionally for reading a subscriber identification module by the phone inside the phone that are able to slip through gaps that are naturally occurring between protective covers of the phone because of necessary manufacturing tolerances so that the external subscriber identification modules can be connected without prejudicing manufacturers warranties on any phone.

Claims 
     
         1.   A digital mobile phone of a type having a subscriber identification module wherein there are provided at least two subscriber identification modules and switch means accessible to the user and adapted whereby the user changes the switch from one position to another of the switch positions can select a one or other of the modules. 
     
     
         2.   An external holder attachable to an existing mobile digital phone and adapted to take at least two subscriber identification module cards, switch means to provide access to any one of the subscriber identification module cards held in the external holder and means connecting such connected external subscriber identification module card electrically to a subscriber identification module take-off adaptor located within the existing internal subscriber identification module card holder of the digital mobile phone. 
     
     
         3.   A digital mobile phone of a type having a user removable subscriber identification module card within an internal holder characterised in that there is within the internal subscriber identification module card holder a take off card replacing any subscriber identification module therein and connecting to electrical connections for electrical connection of the subscriber identification module card to the phone and having a wire take-off for each subscriber identification module connection the wire take-off extending through to outside of the body of the mobile phone to an external subscriber identification module card holder, the external subscriber identification module card holder being adapted to hold at least two subscriber identification module cards with each having its electrical connections connected to the corresponding wire take offs connected to the wire take-off, and having a switch therewith to change effective active connection of the wire take offs from a first of any subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder to a second or other of any subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder. 
     
     
         4.   For a digital mobile phone of a type having a user removable subscriber identification module card within an internal subscriber identification module card holder, a take off card having a wire take-off for each subscriber identification module connection within the holder the wire take-off adapted to extend through to an outside of the body of the mobile phone to an external subscriber identification module card holder attached to the phone casing, the external subscriber identification module card holder being adapted to hold at least two subscriber identification module cards with each having its electrical connections connected to the corresponding wire take offs connected to the wire take-off, and having a switch therewith to change effective active connection of the wire take offs from a first of any subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder to a second or other of any subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder. 
     
     
         5.   A digital mobile phone of a type having a user removable subscriber identification module card within an internal holder, characterised in that there is within the internal subscriber identification module card holder a take-off card having electrical contacts replicating any subscriber identification module card that would otherwise be therein, and connecting to electrical connections for electrical connection in the phone and having a wire take-off for each subscriber identification module connection, the wire take-off in each case extending to an outside of the body of the mobile phone to an external subscriber identification module card holder, the external subscriber identification module card holder being adapted to hold at least two subscriber identification module cards each having its electrical connections connected to the corresponding wire take-offs connected to the take-off card, and having a switch therewith adapted to change effective active connection from one of the subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder to a second of the subscriber identification module cards in the external card holder. 
     
     
         6.   Any one of the preceding claims 2 through 5 further characterised in that the wire take offs are together an integrated flexible circuit board where there is a substrate, a laid conducting track for each circuit on the substrate and an overlay coating. 
     
     
         7.   Any one of the preceding claims 2 through 6 further characterised in that the wire take offs are together an integrated flexible circuit board where there is a substrate comprised of polyester plastics material, a laid conducting track for each circuit on the substrate and an overlay coating of polyester plastics material. 
     
     
         8.   A method of selecting networks using a digital mobile phone having at least first and second subscriber identification modules, said method comprising: 
       providing a first network accessible by said digital mobile phone; 
       providing a second network accessible said digital mobile phone; and 
       selectively switching between the first network and the second network to be accessed by said digital mobile phone by selecting for connection to said digital mobile phone said first or said second subscriber identification module, wherein providing said first network comprises providing said first subscriber identification module for said first network and providing said second network comprises providing said second subscriber identification module for the second network. 
     
     
         9.   The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the selectively switching between the first network and the second network comprises electronically switching between said first network and said second network on the mobile phone. 
     
     
         10.   The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the selectively switching between the first network and the second network comprises activating a switch on said mobile phone to select said first network or said second network to be accessed by said mobile phone. 
     
     
         11.   A method for accessing networks by different users of a mobile phone, said mobile phone comprising at least a first and a second subscriber identification module, said method comprising: 
       providing a first network for a user of said mobile phone; 
       providing a second network for another user of said mobile phone; and 
       selectively switching between the first network and the second network depending on the user of said mobile phone by selecting for connection to said mobile phone one or the other of said subscriber identification modules, wherein providing said first network comprises providing said first identification module for a user of the first network, and providing said second network comprises providing said second identification module for the user of the second network. 
     
     
         12.   The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the mobile phone is a digital mobile phone. 
     
     
         13.   The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the selectively switching between the first network and the second network on said mobile phone comprises electronically switching between the first network and the second network on the mobile phone depending on the user of the mobile phone, wherein the network is switched to the first network when the one user is operating the mobile phone and the second network when the other user is operating the mobile phone. 
     
     
         14.   The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the selectively switching between the first network and the second network comprises activating a switch on the mobile phone to switch between the first network and the second network. 
     
     
         15.   A method of selectively accessing a network from a mobile phone comprising:  providing at least two subscriber identification module cards, a mobile phone adapted to function with said at least two subscriber identification module cards at least one of which is installable and removable from said mobile phone by a user, and a switch to select between said at least two subscriber identification module cards for connection to said mobile phone, said switch including memory and further including software programming associated with said memory, each said subscriber identification module card permitting said mobile phone to access a respective associated network as a function of said switch; and 
       selecting a network with said switch. 
     
     
         16.   A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said mobile phone includes a holder attachable to said mobile phone to hold at least one of said two subscriber identification modules. 
     
     
         17.   A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said switch can be actuated by a user of said mobile phone. 
     
     
         18.   A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said switching is effected using an electronic switch operable by logic comprises of said programming and said memory. 
     
     
         19.   A digital mobile phone capable of being equipped with a holder and capable of using at least two subscriber identification modules comprising:  at least two subscriber identification modules, said holder detachably connected to said digital mobile phone, wherein said holder comprises at least one of said at least two subscriber identification modules, and a switch to select one or the other of said subscriber identification modules for use with said digital mobile phone, and wherein each of said subscriber identification modules permits said digital mobile phone to access a respective associated network as a function of said switch. 
     
     
         20.   A digital mobile phone as in  claim 19 , further including memory means within said digital mobile phone and a software program in said memory means and a central processing unit for switching from one to the other of said subscriber identification modules. 
     
     
         21.   A digital mobile phone comprising at least two subscriber identification module cards, and a switch to select one or the other of said subscriber identification module cards for electrical connection to the digital mobile phone, each of said subscriber identification module cards permitting said digital mobile phone to access a respective associated network as a function of said switch. 
     
     
         22.   A digital mobile phone as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein said digital mobile phone further includes memory means provided in said digital phone, and further including a software program associated with said memory means and a central processing unit to effect selective switching from one to another of said subscriber identification module cards.