Information processing apparatus, information processing system and radio communication control method

• US 20070120752A1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takasu, Nobuaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,773,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus including a main body to be detachably docked with an external apparatus including a first antenna and a first radio communication unit which performs radio communication by using the first antenna, a second antenna provided in the main body, a third antenna provided in a predetermined position in the main body, which is closer to the first antenna than to the second antenna, when the main body is docked with the external apparatus, and a second radio communication unit which is provided in the main body, and communicates by radio with the external apparatus by using the third antenna, when the main body is docked with the external apparatus.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising:

first and second components configured to detachably connect to each other; and

a first antenna in the first component and a second antenna in the second component, the antennas configured to communicate with each other, said antennas being positioned on said first and second components, respectively, so that they are positioned proximate to each other when the first and second components are connected.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a switch in the first component configured to activate the first antenna to communicate with second antenna when the first and second components are connected.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the switch is configured to switch activation from a third antenna in the first component to the first antenna.

4. The information processing system according to claim 3, further comprising a radio communication unit in the first component configured to control the strength of a radio signal output from the first antenna relative to that from the third antenna.

5. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a second switch in the second component configured to activate the second antenna to communicate with the first antenna when the first and second components are connected.

6. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a main body that is detachably connected to an external unit, the main body comprising a first antenna configured to provide radio communication;

a second antenna provided in the external unit;

a third antenna provided in a predetermined position in the main body, the third antenna being positioned is closer to the first antenna than to the second antenna when the main body is connected to the external unit; and

a switch in the main body configured to activate the third antenna to communicate with the first antenna when the main body is connected to the external unit.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a radio communication unit that is connected with the second antenna and the third antenna, the radio communication unit configured to control the strength of a radio signal output from the third antenna relative to that from the second antenna.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a connector provided at the main body to permit connection of said main body with the external unit for receiving power from external unit.

9. A radio communication control method for an information processing apparatus provided with a main body to be detachably connectable to an external unit including a first antenna, the radio communication control method comprising:

determining whether the main body is connected to the external unit;

permitting radio communication between the main body and the external unit via a second antenna provided in said main body when the main body is not connected with the external unit,

permitting radio communication between the main body and the external unit via a third antenna when the main body is connected with the external apparatus.

10. The radio communication control method according to claim 9, further comprising controlling the strength of a radio signal transmitted using the third antenna relative to that using the second antenna.