Portable computer having a data card reader apparatus associated therewith

摘要

The present invention provides a personal computer comprising a main chassis having an exterior wall forming, in part, an interior portion of the personal computer. The exterior wall has a data card slot formed therein and is configured to receive a data card therethrough. The interior portion contains data processing circuitry for processing data recorded on a data card. A data card reader is positioned within the interior portion and has a reading head positioned adjacent a first end of the data card reader for linearly reading the data when the data card is received through the slot. Further, the data card reader has a second end electrically connectable to the data processing circuitry for transmitting the data to the data processing circuitry when the data card is passed through the data card reader. The data card reader may be incorporated into a PCMCIA structure such as a PCMCIA card housing or guide/socket frame.