WO1992020048A1

WO1992020048A1 - Audio information exchange

Info

Publication number: WO1992020048A1
Application number: PCT/SE1991/000328
Authority: WO
Inventors: Knut Magnus Almgren
Original assignee: Elysium Aktiebolag
Priority date: 1991-05-08
Filing date: 1991-05-08
Publication date: 1992-11-12

Abstract

An audio information exchange arrangement including a transducer (14) for converting signals between electric and audio forms. The arrangement is packaged substantially two-dimensionally in a card of predetermined dimensions and minimal thickness to maintain structural flexibility and rigidity. The audio card (9) is conveniently compact, portable, and durable. The transducer (14) of the audio card (9) includes a transmitter for producing audio signals, and an audio receiver for receiving audio signals.

Description

Audio Information Exchange

Technical Field

This invention relates to the transfer and exchange of audio information, and particularly to the transfer and exchange of information with signals passing between substantially two-dimensional audio cards and a computer through a telephone handset. The computer may be located in the telephone itself.

Background of the Invention

Substantially two-dimensional cards of many kinds have been known for many years. In their simplest version, credit cards having magnetic bands are capable of carrying information in a passive manner and are capable of being read at will by specialized reader equipment.

Personal memory-cards and smart cards of various kinds have also been known for some time. For example, AT&T's U.S. Patent No. 4,795,898 shows a personal memory-card the size of a standard plastic credit card. However, this card is externally powered to permit the capacitive coupling of information signals to and from the card. The card contains semiconductor circuitry and is able to process and store information. Further, the card contains an EEPROM

SUBSTITUTESHEET (electrically erasable programmable read only memory) which can be erased and written upon in accordance with well known techniques in the electrical arts. Significantly, this smart card does not communicate audio signals with the telephone network.

Smart cards such as this can additionally store information in both volatile and non-volatile form, both in random access memories (RAM) and read only memories (ROM). Such cards are accordingly capable of recording complex financial transactions. More sophisticated smart cards are known, which contain account numbers and balances.

Typically, such a card may carry information to identify the holder or user of the card. In operation, the card is typically passed through a specialized reader, or the like. This reader may both read and write information, either on the magnetic band or the internal semiconductor memory within the card.

Both magnetic and semiconductor memory cards have limitations. A primary limitation is the requirement for specialized read/write equipment which is costly and, in many cases, simply not readily available. An additional disadvantage, particularly in the case of magnetic cards, is that the information may be lost when the magnetic band is inadvertently demagnetized, or when the semiconductor memory loses power. Another disadvantage resides in the fact that information is passed to and from the card electrically or magnetically. Further, most memory cards are incapable of engaging in complex security dialogues with a remote computer which determines whether the card user is its legitimate owner. Finally, no smart cards are known which engage in audio communication directly with the telephone network.

Accordingly, it is desired to develop an interactive, audio communicating electronic smart card, which is capable of manipulating received information, possibly according to predetermined algorithms or schemes.

Additionally, it is desired to develop an electronic audio- communicative card device, which is capable of receiving and storing encrypted information and sequences, and capable of interactive communication with remote locations, such as a remote computer containing information of a selected kind.

Another object of the invention is to develop an audio smart-card that has the size and appearance of a common credit card.

Another object of the invention is to make it easy to remotely use audio cards with an ordinary telephone for user identification and for storage of information of the same type as is stored on a magnetic strip typical of bank- cards. Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the invention herein is directed toward a substantiallytwo-dimensional, rectangularelectronicaudio card. The audio card includes audio transducer elements such as a receiver and transmitter arrangement, including a loudspeaker and a microphone, to permit effective communication with, for example, the handset of a standard telephone, serving as a external, communication port for communication of audio signals. The audio card, according to the preferred embodiment, includes electronic circuitry and a power source to drive the transducer elements and the electronic circuitry in processing information received in audio transmissions from the telephone system and to send processed information back to the telephone handset. The audio card secures various electronic and audio elements in a substantially flat configuration, enabling the card to be conveniently carried, as in the pocket of a user, together with such paraphernalia such as conventional credit cards, driver's licenses, and photographs.

According to the invention, an audio communication card is developed for communicating with audio signals through a telephone handset with a remotely-located computer arrangement. The audio communication card comprises a microphone for receiving audio information through a telephone handset and electronic circuitry for processing information received by the microphone. The electronic circuitry further includes a memory for storing information and a speaker for producing audio signals in response to the electronic circuitry. The audio communication card is substantially two-dimensional. It is compact and conveniently portable.

Detailed Description of the Drawing

Figure 1 shows an example of typical operation of one mode of the invention addressed herein, in which the hand of the user positions the audio card in the vicinity of a telephone handset in order to enable the audio card effectively to communicate with a remote computer through the telephone system;

Figure 2 shows the general physical layout of one form of the audio card, illustrating, in phantom, selected internal features which enable its operation;

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the audio card, which illustrates the general construction of the card from a central core, a ground plane tape strip, and another tape strip upon which the transducer elements of the audio card are mounted for insertion into complementary receiving apertures defined in the central core;

Figure 4 shows, in schematic form, the internal arrangement of the audio card, in terms of its general circuit components and interconnections;

Figure 5 shows the information handling portions of the internal arrangement of the audio card; Figure 6 shows, in side view, a representative transducer element, i.e., either the microphone or the speaker, of the audio card;

Figure 7 shows a partial cross-section of the power source, e.g., battery, mounted within the audio card for driving the circuit and transducer elements of the arrangement;

Figure 8 shows a partial cross-section of the microphone or speaker elements of the audio card; and

Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional detail of the features of the audio card directed toward mounting the semiconductor chip containing the information processing elements within the audio card.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Figure 1 shows the audio card 9, according to the invention herein, held in the hand 10 of a user for communication with a remote computer (not shown) through a telephone handset 11. By suitably positioning audio card 9 near telephone handset 11, audio communication is enabled between audio card 9 and telephone handset 11, with the effect that the remote computer can communicate with the audio card 9 interactively. This effectively permits the computer to interrogate the card 9 for information, such as an account number, for example, or other identifying information, which may be stored in a memory element fabricated in the card 9, as will be discussed below. The computer can for example send an audio interrogatory signal to the audio card 9, requesting that the audio card 9 identify itself. The audio card 9 then processes the inquiry, as will be discussed below, responding suitably with an audio signal then returned to the remote computer for recognition and authorization to begin desired evolutions, such as for example the withdrawal of currency amounts from a specified monetary account or the request for personal telephone services offered by a telephone network operator company.

The audio card 9 of Figure 1 includes a pair of transducer elements 14 for converting pre-established signals and carrying predetermined signal information, between audio and electric states. The transducer elements 14, according to the invention herein, include a speaker 15 for producing internally generated audio signals, and a microphone 17 to receive externally generated audio signals. The externally generated audio signals may for example be derived from the earpiece of telephone handset 11.

Figure 2 shows the general physical schematic of one version of audio card 9. The schematic of Figure 2, shows, in phantom, the pair of transducer elements 14 including loudspeaker 15 and microphone 17, power source 23, and electronic circuitry 19 energized by the power source 23 for processing electrical signals transduced from audio form. Additionally, Figure 2 shows a typical electrical interconnection scheme for these elements. In particular, audio card 9 respectively includes electric lines, i.e., traces 21 and 22, in order effectively electrically to interconnect microphone 17 and speaker 15 with electronic circuitry 19. Power source 23 is similarly connected with electronic circuitry 19 along electric line 24.

As is well-known in the electrical arts, each of these elements, including power source 23, electronic circuitry 19, speaker 15, and microphone 17, are suitably grounded or set to common, as suggested in Figure 4.

Figure 3 particularly shows an exploded view of audio card 9 and illustrates the general construction of audio card 9 from a flattened, substantially two dimensional central core 65, a ground plane 59 on a tape strip 57, and another tape strip 56 carrying electric traces 58 to which the transducer elements 14 of the audio card 9 are electrically connected, for insertion into complementary receiving apertures 13 defined in the central core 65. As can be seen, the central core 65 additionally defines receiving depressions 13' (the upper one thereof being shown; the lower one, being on the underside of central member or core 65, not being shown) to fittingly, and suitably bondingly receive tape strips 58 and 59. The ground plane 59 is preferably electrically connected to a complementary ground trace deposited upon tape strip 58, effective for providing a circuit ground for electronic circuitry 19. Respective electric traces 21, 22, and 24 are shown connecting electronic circuitry 19 to loudspeaker 15, microphone 17, and power source 60. Figure 3 additionally shows further circuit elements 19' which preferably include a decoupling capacitor to maintain circuit voltage levels within predetermined effective operational levels. The same general scheme of components and electrical circuit connections is shown schematically in Figure 4, for convenience. Figures 2 and 4 are generally very similar, as both set forth the basic elements of the audio card 9. However, the rendition of Figure 4 is more abstract in its representation of the layout of the components within audio card 9. Figure 2, on the other hand, provides a much more physically realistic presentation of audio card 9. Figure 4, on the other hand, shows electronic circuitry 19 in the embodiment of a semiconductor chip which is preferably custom designed around an Intel microprocessor kernel.

Figure 5 shows the details of electronic circuitry 19 as included in the fabrication of audio card 9. In particular, electronic circuitry 19 includes, but is not limited to, a central processing unit 41 (i.e., "CPU", or "CPU 41"), a read-only-memory (ROM) 42, a random-access- memory (RAM) 43, a timer circuit 44, and a latch 45. Each of these electronic elements is interconnected with a common bus 48 established within the hardware of electronic circuitry 19. The output side of latch 45 is suitably electrically connected to the input of an amplifier 46 effective for electrically driving speaker 15. Bus 48 additionally receives input signals along electric line, i.e., trace 22, through an amplifier 47. The input side of amplifier 47 is suitably electrically connected along electric trace 22 to receive electric signals from microphone 17.

The purpose of ROM 42 is to contain selected algorithms and non-alterable static data needed to operate predetermined functions of audio card 9. On the other hand, RAM 43 provides volatile, i.e., temporary, information storage capabilities for electronic circuitry 19. It is contemplated that the circuitry of card 9 include suitable RAM, ROM, and/or PROM memory devices for storing information received or developed in the course of operation of the card 9. A main thrust of the audio card 9 is to enable the processing of received information with algorithms and/or data stored in ROM 42.

The purpose of latch 45 is to secure signal values received at its input side from bus 48. The object of timer 44 is to produce predetermined frequencies for presentation (after suitable amplification by amplifier 46) by speaker 15. According to a preferred embodiment, timer 44 is a 16- bit counter, which can be preset to a selected binary value. In operation, the counter is driven by the CPU clock according to well known techniques of the microprocessor arts. When the counter reaches zero, an interrupt signal is generated and dispatched to cause an interrupt during the interrupt interval of the CPU. The implementation of an interrupt in this fashion includes changing the state of latch 45. The frequency of state changes in latch 45 produces a desired frequency audio output from amplifier 46.

Similarly, timer 44 permits the effective measurement of the timing of incoming signals and information from microphone 17. Suitable phase lock loop algorithms can be implemented in CPU 49 to enable the detection of audio signals received by microphone 17 and amplified by amplifier 47.

Figure 6 shows a side view of a representative transducer element 14, i.e., microphone 17 or speaker 15 of audio card 9. According to a preferred mode of the invention, both transducer elements 14 are substantially cylindrical. However, the diameter of the speaker 15 cylinder is substantially larger in diameter than is the cylinder of microphone 14. This difference arises from the necessity to produce a relatively loud audio signal from speaker 15 to ensure that the transmitted message is suitably heard. However, the microphone 14 can be very small in diameter, yet nonetheless very effectively detect even small audio signals heard during operation.

As suggested in Figure 6, microphone 17 and speaker 15 are preferably constructed to include respective polarized elements 51 and 52. These are constructed out of polarizable materials, as discussed below, and are polarized by suitably applying heat and suitable electrical fields, in accordance with well-known techniques. According to a preferred version of the invention, these polarized elements 51 and 52 are very thin in order to accommodate the thin packaging of card 9. For example, polarized elements 51 and 52 are preferably films of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Features of the preferred material are its piezo-electric and ceramic characteristics, which make the material suitable for loudspeaker and microphone applications. The ceramic nature, e.g., stiffness, of the PVDF further has advantages for the construction of speakers.

The PVDF material out of which polarized elements 51, 52 are fabricated is commercially available from Soltex Polymer Corporation at 3333 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas. Alternatively, this film material is available under the tradename "Kynar" from Pennwalt company, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Polarized elements 51 and 52 are suitably bonded or otherwise suitably connected to each other, after fabrication into thin cylinders, onto opposite sides of a central electrode 53. This is accomplished by electrically conductively bonding polarized elements 51 and 52 to each other after sputtering conductive surfaces onto each of them, thereby creating electrodes on both sides of each polarized element 51. By virtue of the conductive surfaces sputtered onto both sides of polarized elements 51 and 52, outer electrodes 54 and 55 are thus created which partially surround or straddle both sides of the combination of polarizable elements 51 and 52. Each of these electrodes 53, 54, and 55, (i.e., including central electrode 53 and outer electrodes 54 and 55) constitutes a layer of electrically conductive material, and preferably one of aluminum.

More particularly, the fabrication of the conductive layer material out of which respective electrodes 53, 54, and 55 are made is accomplished by sputtering a suitable electrically conductive material, for example aluminum, onto both sides of the sheets in which the thin-film PVDF material is commercially sold or otherwise made available. Suitably dimensioned cylinders of the PVDF material can be stamped out of these sheets in order to construct speakers and microphones for use in the invention addressed herein. Accordingly, both speaker and microphone, respectively 15 and 17, are fashioned of a pair of cylindrical building blocks, each having a central core element, either 51 or 52, of the selected piezoelectric material, as well as with a pair of conductive outer surfaces, which in Figure 6 are shown as either the pair 53, 54, or the pair 53, 55. In order to accomplish final construction of microphone 17 or speaker 15 in accordance with the invention herein, two of such piezoelectric elements 51, 52 must be combined with a central conductive layer 53 therebetween, with a central conductive tab 52' extending therefrom as shown in Figure 8. Outer electrodes 54 and 55 are electrically connected to a common ground, as generally suggested in Figure 4 which shows each of the respective elements, including electronic circuitry 19, power source 60, microphone 17, and speaker 15, connected to ground. Central electrode 53 is electrically connected to either amplifier 46 (in the case of speaker 15) or amplifier 47 (in the case of microphone 17). In the case of speaker 15, the signals from latch 45 are amplified to drive speaker 15; in the case of microphone 17, signals from central electrode 53 are amplified for input to bus 48. Polarized elements 51 and 52 respectively have negative and positive sides thereof bonded to central electrode 53, to permit mechanical vibration thereof in response to electric signals received or transmitted at central electrode 53. Preferably, polarized elements 51 and 52 are low cylinders of piezoelectric plastic material. Selected well-known polarizable ceramic materials available in long bars can be employed to construct the cylindrical piezoelectric discs used to make speaker 15 and microphone 17, in accordance with the preferred embodiments. The resulting polarized discs or cylinders which are employed in the construction of microphone 17 and speaker 15, can alternatively be made from bars of raw polarizable material by thinly slicing the bars into sections along planes perpendicular to the axis of the bar at predefined, regular intervals.

Figure 7 shows a partial cross-section of audio card 9 including top and bottom surfaces of strips of plastic tape material typically employed in tape automated bonding (TAB) operations, respectively 56 and 57, which are preferably made of a suitable insulative material, such as Kapton, for example. Ground plane 48 and electric traces 59 are suitably deposited upon these respective strips of tape, 56 and 57. As is well-known, the preferred material, Kapton, is typically used is strips of thin tape and is suitable for carrying defined electric conductive traces and leads according to predetermined patterns which have been deposited or etched onto the surface of the insulative material, i.e., respectively, strips 56 and 57. Typically, the insulative material in surfaces 56 and 57 is manufactured as an elongated film, making the patterning of specific circuit lines or traces workable and effective. The width of surfaces 56 and 57 is substantially less than that of a conventional width of card 9. As is well-known, TAB technology typically is based upon standard 35 millimeter photographic film technology, although the film strip itself is not photographic film, but rather according to the preferred embodiment herein is made of Kapton plastic material. Kapton, as is well known is a DuPont trademark. The material itself is a polyimide plastic. Its primary characteristics are that the material is non- conductive and thermally resistant. For example, without damage, the material can effectively survive temperatures in the range of approximate 300 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the material is non-aging and stable.

In the course of manufacture, the original TAB film comes on a reel containing a coil of the TAB film material. The entire coil is cut into a large plurality of strip pieces, each of which serves as one of the two strips within card 9. As to at least one of the strips, a number of components are be mounted on the strip, including electronic circuitry 19, microphone 17, speaker 15, and battery 23. The top strip of material, designated by number 56, has these respective items mounted on its underside. The thickness of the respective components requires that the central core member 65 have a plurality of recesses defined in its surfaces to receive the insertion of electronic circuitry 19, microphone 17, speaker 15, and battery 23 therethrough during the bonding operation of material 56 onto central member 65. The bottom strip of material 57 is employed primarily as a ground plane for the circuitry defined on top strip 56. This is accomplished by depositing conductive material over the surface of the Kapton film. In the case of battery 60, its thickness is preferably the same as that of central member 65, thereby permitting the cap 61 of battery 60 to be suitably bonded with bonding material 67, for example. a suitable adhesive, preferably conductive epoxy or possibly solder material, to the top strip 56, while bottom (i.e., outer casing 62) of battery 60 is similarly suitably, electrically conduct!vely, bonded to the bottom, ground plane acting, strip 57. After depositing suitable traces and mounting the components on the traces, the TAB coil is entered into a mechanical punch machine for cutting or stamping holes directly into the plastic, which enables subsequent separation of the coil, after testing has been accomplished, into separate strips of material containing the desired circuitry and components. During testing, the components and the circuits are subject to a range of involved test sequences, while still on the TAB reel, with selected kinds of electrical test equipment in order to assess operability of the arrangement or selected portions thereof before finally assembly of the particular TAB strips into cards 9. Portions of the electric traces are indicated by reference numerals 58 and 59. Traces 59 preferably constitute a ground plane for audio card 9.

Figure 7 additionally illustrates in partial cross section power source 60, e.g., battery, mounted within the audio card 9 for driving the circuit and transducer elements of the arrangement. Power source 60 includes cap 61, outer casing 62, and seal element 63 for containing a suitable electrolyte fluid 64 in a hermetically sealed enclosure. Top and bottom surfaces 56 and 57 are bonded securely to a preferably flexible central structure 65 which defines suitable apertures for containing power supply 60, electronic circuitry 19, speaker 15, and microphone 17. Any spaces, e.g., space 65 defined by any of these elements, e.g., power supply 60, and the walls of apertures defined within central structure 65, are preferably filled with a suitable potting material, to secure the elements in place to maximize the longevity and useful life of audio card 9. A suitable electrolyte 64 for power supply 60 is preferably lithium based. Power supply 60 can be soldered into place against traces 58 and 59 with solder material 63 and 66.

Figure 8 shows a partial cross-section of the microphone or speaker elements, respectively 17 and 15, of audio card 9. In particular, these elements include top and bottom surfaces 56 and 57, conductive traces 71 and 59, central structure 65, polarized elements 51 and 52, outer electrodes 54 and 55, and central electrode 53, generally organized and fashioned in accordance with the discussions above. Conductive trace 71 is analogous to conductive trace 58, but assigned a separate number, because it is not strictly considered to be the same trace. An additional trace 75 is defined in Figure 8 to distinguish the function of that trace 75 as carrying signal information either driving speaker 15 or receiving information from microphone 17. As can be seen in Figure 7, central electrode 53 is electrically connected by extension 53' to trace 75. These are preferably secured by glue connection 74 with a suitable conductive epoxy. A similar connection 76 secures the bottom of speaker 15 or microphone 17 to bottom trace 59, i.e., the ground plane; and the top of speaker 15 or microphone 17, to trace 71. Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional detail of the features of the audio card directed toward mounting a single pad of the semiconductor chip and electronic circuitry 19 within the audio card 9. Specifically, as generally indicated in earlier figures, these elements include top and bottom surfaces 56 and 57, conductive traces 81 and 59, and central structure 65, generally organized and fashioned in accordance with the discussions above. Figure 9 illustrates the positioning of electronic circuitry 19 in a receiving aperture of central structure 65, preferably secured by a selected potting material 66 as already suggested in reference to Figure 6. The connections between the traces 81 and particular circuits in electronic circuitry 19 are made through pads 98 and 99 respectively formed on trace 81 and electronic circuitry 19 and suitably joined by thermo-compression techniques, for example. Said pads 98 and 99 are preferably made of gold.

Loudspeaker 15 is manufactured in accordance with well- known techniques to fit within the substantially flat package of the audio card 9 of the invention herein. In particular, loudspeaker 15 can be made with two sheets 51, 52 of polarized plastic or piezoelectric material fashioned into substantially circular layers of plastic. By application of predetermined electric fields, these plastic sheets 51, 52 are caused to vibrate within audio frequencies in accordance with predetermined schemes. This is accomplished, by attachment of respective electrodes to opposite sides of the sheets 51, 52 of plastic material, to permit application of the electric fields according to the predetermined schemes. A single sheet 51 can be used in lieu of the two sheets 51, 52, but it is preferred to use the two, because the effective audio response is enhanced. The plastic sheets are bonded to the electrodes. The sheets of plastic and the electrodes are substantially the same in total area. by having two sheets, a symmetry is established which permits the mechanical and material effects of temperature and aging, which might warp the card over time to be counterbalanced.

Microphone 17 is similarly manufactured to fit within the flat package of the audio card 9. As with respect to speaker 15, microphone 17 is preferably made with two sheets 51, 52 of polarized plastic material fashioned into circular layers of plastic. As in the case of speaker 15, these vibrate under the influence of externally generated sound waves, permitting vibration at frequencies detected by the respective electrodes attached at opposite sides of the sheets 51, 52 of plastic material. A single sheet 51 can be used in lieu of the two sheets 51, 52, but it is preferred to use the two, because the effective electrical response to the audio stimulus is enhanced. The construction also is accomplished substantially analogously.

Loudspeaker 15 and microphone 17 are suitably electrically connected to the same flexible tape strip 59. The audio card 9 is preferably made of plastic and is fabricated to define suitably-sized holes for the speaker 15 and the microphone 17. A flexible circuit card is mounted onto the more robust plastic card. The two are bonded with a selected epoxy or by thermal or adhesive bonding, to make the arrangement effectively hold together over a predetermined lifetime.

The flexible circuit card 9 contains predetermined electronic circuitry 19 and contacts for establishing electric lines of communication between the handling circuitry and the transducer elements, i.e., the loudspeaker and microphone. The circuitry 19 preferably includes a single micro-controller for information handling and selected drive circuitry for driving each transducer 14. The micro-controller is preferably a semiconductor chip including a microprocessor and suitable memory elements, i.e., random access memory configured according to well-known standards. The chip itself is preferably a custom CMOS chip, in order to minimize power consumption during operation. According to a preferred mode of the invention, the card 9 has a slumber mode in which some of its power consuming activities are shut off. Accordingly, the card 9 conserves as much energy as possible when not in use, while awaiting receipt of external signals. During full power operation, on the other hand, all of the functions of the card 9 are fully engaged and operable. From a design perspective, the basis chip design and functions are brought to a typical semiconductor foundry. Such a foundry employs suitable masks representative of the selected microprocessor core, which in this instance is preferably an Intel 8051. The desired core includes 256 bytes of RAM memory and 2K bytes of ROM memory, for example. A suitable 16-bit timer circuit is also part of the 8051 core. This timer is employed, among other things to produce desired frequencies in the output audio signals as well as to produce comparison frequencies for received audio signals. The receipt of audio signals of expected frequencies can be accomplished by setting a group of predetermined time windows from a first detected transition in a received pulse train, and then observing which of the windows receive entries. Receipt of desired entries would additionally permit resetting the mode of operation from slumber to active.

The audio card 9 can be used in many selected ways. For example, the card can communicate with a computer according to a scheme it has had pre-established in ROM. The card 9 can identify itself according to security procedures and encryption techniques. The card 9 can accordingly maintain a secure record of past financial transactions as well as current account status or other information which varies with time. The uses of such a card 9 are virtually unlimited. Its flexibility of use is unparalleled, particularly in that it needs no specially manufactured reader or write apparatus or mechanisms to interface with the telephone network. It simply utilizes the specific hardware already in place and conveniently available to all.

The embodiment above is merely an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention, as conceived by the inventor. The claims which follow, however, are intended as the actual definition of the metes and bounds of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:C A I M S

1. An information exchange arrangement for communicating audio signals with an external audio communication port, said information exchange arrangement comprising: means for receiving audio signals from an external port; means for processing information received by said means for receiving, said means for processing including a memory for storing selected items of information; and transmitting means for producing audio signals in response to said means for processing; said means for receiving, means for processing, transmitting means, and memory, being thin and substantially two-dimensional, whereby said audio information exchange arrangement is compact and conveniently portable by individual users.

2. The information exchange arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said means for receiving includes a microphone for receiving audio signals from an external communication port.

3. The information exchange arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means includes a loudspeaker for producing audio signals for communication to an external communication port.

4. The information exchange arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said information exchange arrangement has the general form and dimensions of a common credit card.

5. The information exchange arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said information exchange arrangement is generally rectangular in form.

6. The information exchange arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means and said means for receiving include piezo-electric transducer elements.

7. The information exchange arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a means for providing power for operating said means for receiving, means for processing, transmitting means, an memory.

8. The information exchange arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said means for providing power includes a battery.

9. An audio communication card for communicating with audio signals through a telephone handset with a remotely- located computer arrangement, said audio communication card comprising a microphone for receiving audio information through a telephone handset; circuit means for processing information received by said microphone, said circuit means including a memory for storing information; and a speaker for producing audio signals in response to said circuit means; said microphone, circuit means, speaker, and memory, being thin and substantially two-dimensional, whereby said audio communication card is compact and conveniently portable.