INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS

• US 20110131426A1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Shigeo, Nakanishi, Wataru
• Application Number:
  US12/956,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20110131426A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• 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: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a connector, a switching module and a controller. The connector is configured to connect an external device. The switching module is configured to switch between output of electric power to a power supply line, which is connected to the connector, and input of electric power from the power supply line. The controller is configured to make the switching module switch to output of electric power to the power supply line and determine whether the external device includes an electric power supply function when the external device is connected to the connector, and to make the switching module switch to input of electric power from the power supply line when the external device includes an electric power supply function.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a connector configured to connect to an external device;

a switching module configured to switch between output of electric power to a power supply line and input of electric power from the power supply line, the power supply line being connected to the connector; and

a controller configured to make the switching module switch to output of electric power to the power supply line and to determine whether the external device includes an electric power supply function when the external device is connected to the connector, and to make the switching module switch to input of electric power from the power supply line when the external device includes an electric power supply function.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching module comprises:

a first switch configured to open or shut off a first internal power supply line to output electric power to the power supply line; and

a second switch configured to open or shut off a second internal power supply line to input electric power from the power supply line.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to make the first switch open the first internal power supply line and make the second switch shut off the second internal power supply line when the external device is connected to the connector and to make the first switch shut off the first internal power supply line and make the second switch open the second internal power supply line when the external device is a device including an electric power supply function.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a battery which can be charged and discharged;

a power supply module configured to generate electric power to be output to the power supply line by using electric power from the battery; and

a charge module configured to charge the battery by using electric power input from the power supply line, wherein;

the first internal power supply line leads the electric power generated by the power supply module to the power supply line, and

the second internal power supply line leads the electric power input from the power supply line to the charge module.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the switching module comprises:

a first backflow prevention module provided on the first internal power supply line; and

a second backflow prevention module provided on the second internal power supply line.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the first backflow prevention module is interposed between the first switch and the power supply line, and

the second backflow prevention module is interposed between the second switch and the charge module.

7. A control method of an information processing apparatus comprising a connector configured to connect to an external device and a switching module configured to switch between output of electric power to a power supply line, which is connected to the connector, and input of electric power from the power supply line, the method comprising:

making the switching module switch to output of electric power to the power supply line and determining whether the external device includes an electric power supply function when the external device is connected to the connector; and

making the switching module switch to input of electric power from the power supply line when the external device includes an electric power supply function.