Power supply arrangement and connector

• US 5,381,043 A
• Filed: 02/05/1993
• Issued: 01/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kohiyama, Tomohisa, Kitahara, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M.
• Application Number:
  US08/013,999
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 364/707, 364/708.1, 361/694, 361/729, 361/730, 361/785, 361/683-687, 361/682, 307/31, 307/116, 307/147, 307/150, 439/164, 439/165, 439/190, 439/194, 439/195, 439/489, 439/490
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/956 with means to allow selection of diverse voltage or polarity

Abstract

A power supply arrangement for a main unit of a portable, battery operated information processing apparatus including at least a microprocessor and a battery. The power supply arrangement comprising an expansion unit for the portable information processing apparatus for expanding the operation capability of the main unit of the information processing apparatus upon connection therewith. The expansion unit includes a power circuit for converting an a.c. voltage to a d.c. voltage, the power circuit enabling supply of power to the main unit when the expansion unit is connected with the main unit. Also, a connection arrangement is provided for the expansion unit and main unit.

Claims

1. A power supply arrangement for a main unit of a portable information processing apparatus including at least a microprocessor and a battery and without means for converting an a.c. voltage to a d.c. voltage, the power supply arrangement comprising an expansion unit of the portable information processing apparatus for expanding the operation of the main unit of the information processing apparatus upon connection therewith, the expansion unit including power circuit means for converting an a.c. voltage into a d.c. voltage, the power circuit means of the expansion unit enabling supply of d.c. power to the main unit when the expansion unit is connected with the main unit, the main unit only being operable by d.c. power, wherein the main unit includes switching means for selecting one of an output of the battery and an output of the power circuit means, and switching control means for detecting connection of the expansion unit with the main unit and for enabling operation of the switching means in accordance therewith, wherein the microprocessor of the main unit is operable at at least first and second frequencies different from each other, and the switching control means enables operation of the microprocessor at one of the first and second frequencies, and wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency and the second frequency is utilized when the microprocessor is operated by the battery, the switching control means enabling operation of the microprocessor at the first frequency at least in response to the detection of the connection of the expansion unit with the main unit.

2. A power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the switching control means includes means for detecting the mechanical connection of the expansion unit with the main unit.

3. A power supply arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the switching control means includes means for detecting an input voltage from the expansion unit as a detection of the connection of the expansion unit with the main unit.

4. A power supply arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising:

a male connector housing coupled to one of the main unit and the expansion unit;

a female connector housing coupled to the other of the main unit and the expansion unit;

circuit opening/closing means having one of normal-open and normal-closed contacts provided on at least one of the male connector housing and the female connector housing; and

actuator means for at least one of turning on the normal-open contacts and turning off the normal-closed contacts when the male connector housing and the female connector housing are completely coupled to one another.

5. A connection arrangement for connecting a main unit of a portable information processing apparatus to an expansion unit which expands the operation capability of the main unit of the information processing apparatus, the main unit having at least a microprocessor, a battery and a display panel and without means for converting an a.c. voltage to a d.c. voltage, the main unit being operable only by d.c. power, the connection arrangement comprising a first connector provided on a top surface of the expansion unit and a second connector provided on one end of the main unit, the first and second connectors being arranged for direct connection so as to electrically and mechanically connect the expansion unit with the main unit so that the expansion unit serves as a base support for the main unit connected therewith and the main unit extends upwardly from the top surface of the expansion unit, and the display panel of the main unit being adapted to be inclined with respect to the expansion unit as the base.

6. A connection arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the expansion unit includes air flow generation means, and the first and second connector delimit a path for enabling air flow generated by the air flow generation means through portions of the expansion unit and the main unit.

7. A connection arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the expansion unit includes power circuit means for converting an a.c. voltage into a d.c. voltage, the power circuit means supplying d.c. power from the expansion unit to the main unit when the expansion unit is connected with the main unit.

8. A connection arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the expansion unit includes power circuit means for converting an a.c. voltage into a d.c. voltage, the power circuit means supplying d.c. power from the expansion unit to the main unit when the expansion unit is connected with the main unit.

9. A connection arrangement according to claim 5, wherein one of the first and second connectors includes a male connector housing and the other of the first and second connectors includes a female connector housing, at least one of the first and second connectors including circuit opening/closing means having one of normal-open and normal-close contacts, and actuator means for one of turning on the normal-open contacts and turning off the normal-closing contacts when the first and second connectors are completely coupled to one another.

10. An expansion unit for expanding an operation capability of a main unit of a portable information processing apparatus having at least a microprocessor and a battery and without means for connecting an a.c. voltage into a d.c. voltage, the expansion unit comprising:

at least one of an input/output device, external storage unit and memory element;

power circuit means for receiving an a.c. voltage from an a.c. power source through a power cable and for converting the a.c. voltage into a d.c. voltage;

means for supplying the d.c. voltage from the power circuit means of the expansion unit to the main unit for enabling operation of the main unit in accordance therewith, the main unit being operable only by d.c. voltage;

a connector provided on a top surface of the expansion unit for enabling direct connection with a connector of the main unit, the expansion unit upon direct connection with the main unit serving as a support base therefor so that the main unit extends upwardly from the top surface of the expansion unit.

11. An expansion unit according to claim 13, wherein the expansion unit includes air flow generation means therein for enabling cooling of the main unit.