Power supply backup device for use in portable electronic apparatus

• US 5,347,163 A
• Filed: 01/31/1992
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yoshimura, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US07/827,948
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64, 307/66, 307/150, 365/228, 365/229
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/141 Battery and back-up supplies
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

The present invention provides a power supply backup device for a portable electronic apparatus having a main battery and an auxiliary battery for supplying power when a voltage of the main battery drops. The power supply backup device comprises a backup battery for supplying power at a time of an exchange of at least one of the main battery and the auxiliary battery, a mechanism for detecting a removal of the main battery and the auxiliary battery respectively from the apparatus, and a mechanism for switching over a circuit for connecting the backup battery with the apparatus so as to supply power from the backup battery when the detecting mechanism detects the removal of at least one of the main battery and the auxiliary battery.

Claims

1. A power supply backup device used for a portable electronic apparatus having a main battery and an auxiliary battery, comprising:

a backup battery for supplying power to said portable electronic apparatus at a time of exchange of at least one of said main battery and said auxiliary battery;

means for detecting a physical removal of said main battery and said auxiliary battery respectively from said apparatus; and

means for switching over a circuit for connecting said backup battery with said apparatus so as to supply power from said backup battery when said detecting means detects the removal of at least one of said main battery and said auxiliary battery.

2. A power supply backup device according to claim 1, wherein said switching means includes a first switch which turns on when said main battery is removed from a first storage accommodating said main battery and turns off when said main battery is mounted in said first storage, and a second switch which turns on when said auxiliary battery is removed from a second storage accommodating said auxiliary battery, and turns off when said auxiliary battery is mounted in said second storage.

3. A power supply backup device according to claim 2, wherein each of said first and second switches includes a pin disposed in a corresponding storage and a switch contact engaging with said pin, said pin being pushed down thereby to push down the switch contact so as to electrically disconnect said backup battery from said apparatus when a corresponding battery is mounted in the storage, said pin being pushed up by a spring force thereby to push up the switch contact so as to electrically connect said backup battery with said apparatus when a corresponding battery is detached from the storage.

4. A power supply backup device used for a portable electronic apparatus having a main battery and an auxiliary battery, comprising:

a backup battery for supplying power to said portable electronic apparatus at a time of exchange of at least one of said main battery and said auxiliary battery;

a first switch mechanically actuated by mounting said main battery in a first storage and removing said main battery from the first storage; and

a second switch mechanically actuated by mounting said auxiliary battery in a second storage and removing said auxiliary battery from the second storage,

each of said first and second switches including a pin disposed in a corresponding storage and a switch contact engaging with said pin, said pin being pushed down thereby to push down the switch contact so as to electrically disconnect said backup battery from said apparatus when a corresponding battery is mounted in the storage, said pin being pushed up by a spring force thereby to push up the switch contact so as to electrically connect said backup battery with said apparatus when a corresponding battery is detached from the storage.