Function expansion unit capable of supplying power to computer
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising:
- a computer main body and an expansion unit, detachably connected to said computer main body, for supplying a power to said computer main body and expanding a function of said computer,said expansion unit having internal circuit components and including;
first expansion connector means to which at least one expansion circuit board is arbitrarily detachably connected;
first power connector means for supplying power from said expansion unit to said computer main body;
power supply means connected to said first power connector means and internal circuit components including said expansion circuit board, for supplying the power to said internal circuit components including said expansion circuit board and to said first power connector means; and
switching means, connected to said power supply means, for detecting an amount of an internal power supplied from said power supply means to said internal circuit components and stopping the power supply to said computer main body from said power supply means through said first power connector means when the amount of the internal power exceeds a predetermined value; and
said computer main body including;
a second expansion connector means to which said first expansion connector means is connected;
second power connector means to which said first power connector means is connected, for receiving the power from said expansion unit;
a battery means for storing electrical power;
processing means, connected to said expansion circuit board through said first and second expansion connector means and powered by said battery means and the power supplied from said expansion unit through said first and second power connector means, for performing data-processing operation using said expansion circuit board.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a computer main body, and an expansion unit detachably connected to the computer main body, for supplying a power to the computer main body and expanding a function of the computer. A power in the expansion unit is consumed in the expansion unit prior to power supply to the computer main body so as to stably supply a power to circuit components of the expansion unit. The expansion unit includes an expansion connector to which at least one expansion board is arbitrarily detachably connected, a power supply for supplying the power to the circuit components including the expansion circuit boards and to the computer main body, and a switch for detecting a power supplied from the power supply to the circuit components and stopping power supply to the computer main body by the power supply when the power exceeds a predetermined value.
53 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
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a computer main body and an expansion unit, detachably connected to said computer main body, for supplying a power to said computer main body and expanding a function of said computer, said expansion unit having internal circuit components and including; first expansion connector means to which at least one expansion circuit board is arbitrarily detachably connected; first power connector means for supplying power from said expansion unit to said computer main body; power supply means connected to said first power connector means and internal circuit components including said expansion circuit board, for supplying the power to said internal circuit components including said expansion circuit board and to said first power connector means; and switching means, connected to said power supply means, for detecting an amount of an internal power supplied from said power supply means to said internal circuit components and stopping the power supply to said computer main body from said power supply means through said first power connector means when the amount of the internal power exceeds a predetermined value; and said computer main body including; a second expansion connector means to which said first expansion connector means is connected; second power connector means to which said first power connector means is connected, for receiving the power from said expansion unit; a battery means for storing electrical power; processing means, connected to said expansion circuit board through said first and second expansion connector means and powered by said battery means and the power supplied from said expansion unit through said first and second power connector means, for performing data-processing operation using said expansion circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer system comprising:
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a computer main body and an expansion unit, detachably connected to said computer main body, said expansion unit including; a first expansion connector to which internal circuit components are connected; a first power connector; a power supply circuit connected to said first power connector and said internal circuit components, for supplying electrical power to said internal circuit components and to said computer main body through said first power connector; and switching means, connected to said power supply circuit, for detecting an amount of an internal power supplied from said power supply circuit to said internal circuit components and stopping the power supply to said computer main body from said power supply means through said first power connector means when the amount of the internal power exceeds a predetermined value; and said computer main body including; a second expansion connector to which said first expansion connector is connected; a second power connector to which said first power connector is connected; an auxiliary power supply; a processing circuit, connected to said internal circuit components of said expansion unit through said first and second expansion connectors and powered by said auxiliary power supply and the power supplied from said expansion unit through said first and second power connectors, said processing circuit being backed-up by said auxiliary power supply when the supplying the power from said expansion unit to said computer main body is stopped. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A data processing method in a computer system comprising an expansion unit including a power supply circuit, circuit components connected to the power supply circuit, and a detecting circuit connected to the power supply circuit, and a computer including a battery and processing circuit connected to the battery, comprising the steps of:
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connecting an expansion unit and a computer main body, thereby connecting the processing circuit to the power supply circuit and circuit components; supplying an electrical power from the power supply circuit of the expansion unit to the processing circuit of said computer and said circuit components of the expansion unit; performing a processing by means of the processing circuit of the computer, the processing circuit being powered by the power supply circuit of the expansion unit and using the circuit component for processing; detecting an amount of a power supplied from said power supply circuit to the circuit components by means of the detecting circuit; and stopping the supply of the power from the power supply circuit to the processing circuit when the detected amount of power exceeds a predetermined value, the processing circuit continuing the processing by using a power supplied from the battery. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification