Pseudo battery pack, battery pack, electronic apparatus, and electronic apparatus system

• US 20010035735A1
• Filed: 12/06/2000
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Client Computing Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Tanaka, Nobuo, Ozawa, Hidekiyo, Fukuoka, Kazuhito
• Granted Patent: US 6,465,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

In a battery pack, which is mounted on a portable type of electronic apparatus such as a note type of personal computer, a PDA, a mobile personal computer, or another type of electronic apparatus, a pseudo battery pack modeled on the battery pack, an electronic apparatus, and an electronic apparatus system, there is provided a pseudo battery pack incorporating therein a capacitor, which is of the same type as a battery pack.

Claims

1. A pseudo battery pack adapted for use in an electronic apparatus having a battery pack connection section for connecting a battery pack for housing batteries, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack,

wherein said pseudo battery pack has power holding means for holding an electric power to be supplied to said electronic apparatus, in the event that said external power supply is used, when said external power supply fails to shortly supply the electronic power, and said pseudo battery pack is capable of being mounted on said battery pack connection section.

3. A pseudo battery pack according to

claim 1

, wherein said pseudo battery pack has a charging path for preventing or reducing a rush current and charging said power holding means, upon receipt of a supply of the electric power from said external power supply, and a power supplying path for supplying charged electric power stored in said power holding means to said electronic apparatus while preventing a backflow of the power, said power supplying path being different from said charging path.

2. A pseudo battery pack adapted for use in an electronic apparatus having a battery pack connection section for connecting a battery pack for housing batteries, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack,

wherein said pseudo battery pack has power holding means for holding an electric power to be supplied to said electronic apparatus, in the event that said external power supply is used, when said external power supply is shortly shortage in a power supplying ability, and said pseudo battery pack is capable of being mounted on said battery pack connection section.

4. A pseudo battery pack according to

claim 2

, wherein said pseudo battery pack has a charging path for preventing or reducing a rush current and charging said power holding means, upon receipt of a supply of the electric power from said external power supply, and a power supplying path for supplying charged electric power stored in said power holding means to said electronic apparatus while preventing a backflow of the power, said power supplying path being different from said charging path.

5. An electronic apparatus system comprising:

an electronic apparatus having a battery pack connection section for connecting a battery pack for housing batteries, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack; and

a pseudo battery pack having power holding means for holding an electric power to be supplied to said electronic apparatus, in the event that said external power supply is used, when said external power supply fails to shortly supply the electronic power, said pseudo battery pack being capable of being mounted on said battery pack connection section.

7. An electronic apparatus system according to

claim 5

, wherein said pseudo battery pack has a charging path for preventing or reducing a rush current and charging said power holding means, upon receipt of a supply of the electric power from said external power supply, and a power supplying path for supplying charged electric power stored in said power holding means to said electronic apparatus while preventing a backflow of the power, said power supplying path being different from said charging path.

9. An electronic apparatus system according to

claim 5

, wherein said electronic apparatus system further comprises a battery pack.

11. An electronic apparatus system according to

claim 7

, wherein said electronic apparatus system further comprises a battery pack.

6. An electronic apparatus system comprising:

an electronic apparatus having a battery pack connection section for connecting a battery pack for housing batteries, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack; and

a pseudo battery pack having power holding means for holding an electric power to be supplied to said electronic apparatus, in the event that said external power supply is used, when said external power supply is shortly shortage in a power supplying ability, said pseudo battery pack being capable of being mounted on said battery pack connection section.

8. An electronic apparatus system according to

claim 6

, wherein said pseudo battery pack has a charging path for preventing or reducing a rush current and charging said power holding means, upon receipt of a supply of the electric power from said external power supply, and a power supplying path for supplying charged electric power stored in said power holding means to said electronic apparatus while preventing a backflow of the power, said power supplying path being different from said charging path.

10. An electronic apparatus system according to

claim 6

, wherein said electronic apparatus system further comprises a battery pack.

12. An electronic apparatus system according to

claim 8

, wherein said electronic apparatus system further comprises a battery pack.

13. A battery pack adapted for use in an electronic apparatus having a battery pack connection section for connecting a battery pack, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack,

wherein said battery pack comprises:

a battery; and

power holding means for holding an electric power to be supplied to said electronic apparatus, in the event that said external power supply is used, when said external power supply is shortly shortage in a power supplying ability.

14. An electronic apparatus operative with an electric power from an external power supply, said electronic apparatus comprising:

power holding means charged by an electric power from said external power supply for holding an electric power to be supplied to said electronic apparatus, when said external power supply fails to shortly supply the electronic power;

a charging path for preventing or reducing a rush current and charging said power holding means, upon receipt of a supply of the electric power from said external power supply; and

a power supplying path for supplying charged electric power stored in said power holding means while preventing a backflow of the power, said power supplying path being different from said charging path.

15. An electronic apparatus operative with an electric power from an external power supply, said electronic apparatus comprising:

power holding means charged by an electric power from said external power supply for holding an electric power to be supplied to said electronic apparatus, when said external power supply is shortly shortage in a power supplying ability;

a charging path for preventing or reducing a rush current and charging said power holding means, upon receipt of a supply of the electric power from said external power supply; and

a power supplying path for supplying charged electric power stored in said power holding means while preventing a backflow of the power, said power supplying path being different from said charging path.

16. A pseudo battery pack adapted for use in an electronic apparatus having a battery pack mounting section to which a battery pack for housing batteries is detachably mounted, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack,

wherein said pseudo battery pack has a capacitor, and said pseudo battery pack is capable of being mounted on said battery pack mounting section.

17. A pseudo battery pack according to

claim 16

, wherein said pseudo battery pack has a charging path for preventing or reducing a rush current and charging said capacitor, upon receipt of a supply of the electric power from said external power supply, and a power supplying path for supplying charged electric power stored in said capacitor to said electronic apparatus while preventing a backflow of the power, said power supplying path being different from said charging path.

18. A pseudo battery pack according to

claim 16

, wherein said capacitor supplies an electric power stored in said capacitor to said electronic apparatus when a supply of the electric power from said external power supply is stopped.

19. A pseudo battery pack according to

claim 17

, wherein said capacitor supplies an electric power stored in said capacitor to said electronic apparatus when a supply of the electric power from said external power supply is stopped.

20. An electronic apparatus system comprising:

an electronic apparatus having a battery pack mounting section to which a battery pack for housing batteries is detachably mounted, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack; and

a pseudo battery pack having a capacitor, said pseudo battery pack being capable of being mounted on said battery pack mounting section.

21. An electronic apparatus system comprising:

a battery pack for housing batteries;

an electronic apparatus having a battery pack mounting section to which said battery pack is detachably mounted, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack; and

a pseudo battery pack having a capacitor, said pseudo battery pack being capable of being mounted on said battery pack mounting section.

22. A pseudo battery pack adapted for use in an electronic apparatus to which a battery pack for housing batteries is detachably mounted, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack,

wherein said pseudo battery pack has a capacitor, and said pseudo battery pack has substantially same configuration as said battery pack.

23. A pseudo battery pack according to

claim 22

, wherein said pseudo battery pack has a charging path for preventing or reducing a rush current and charging said capacitor, upon receipt of a supply of the electric power from said external power supply, and a power supplying path for supplying charged electric power stored in said capacitor to said electronic apparatus while preventing a backflow of the power, said power supplying path being different from said charging path.

24. An electronic apparatus system comprising:

an electronic apparatus to which a battery pack for housing batteries is detachably mounted, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack; and

a pseudo battery pack having a capacitor, said pseudo battery pack having substantially same configuration as said battery pack, and being detachably mounted on said electronic apparatus.

25. An electronic apparatus system comprising:

a battery pack for housing secondary batteries;

an electronic apparatus to which said battery pack is detachably mounted, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack; and

a pseudo battery pack having a capacitor, said pseudo battery pack having substantially same configuration as said battery pack, and being detachably mounted on said electronic apparatus.

26. A battery pack for an electronic apparatus to which a battery pack for housing batteries is detachably mounted, said electronic apparatus being operable with either of an electric power from an external power supply and an electric power from said battery pack,

wherein said battery pack has a capacitor connected in parallel with the housed batteries.

27. An electronic apparatus operative with an electric power from an external power supply, said electronic apparatus comprising:

a capacitor charged by an electric power from said external power supply for supplying a charged electric power to said electronic apparatus so as to operate during a predetermined time, when said external power supply fails to shortly supply the electronic power;

a charging path for preventing or reducing a rush current and charging said capacitor, upon receipt of a supply of the electric power from said external power supply; and

a power supplying path for supplying charged electric power stored in said capacitor while preventing a backflow of the power, said power supplying path being different from said charging path.

28. An electronic apparatus operative with an electric power from an external power supply, said electronic apparatus comprising:

a capacitor charged by an electric power from said external power supply for supplying a charged electric power to said electronic apparatus so as to operate during a predetermined time, when said external power supply is shortly shortage in a power supplying ability;

a charging path for preventing or reducing a rush current and charging said capacitor, upon receipt of a supply of the electric power from said external power supply; and

a power supplying path for supplying charged electric power stored in said capacitor while preventing a backflow of the power, said power supplying path being different from said charging path.