Computer system for sensing a cable-connected peripheral and for supplying power thereto
First Claim
1. A computer system, comprising:
- a chassis which includes;
at least one battery, and at least one external power connection, and power supply circuitry connected to provide power from said battery or said external power connection through a power supply line;
at least one multiline I/O connector mounted on said chassis, said I/O connector including a plurality of pins; and
circuitry connected to detect a presence or absence of a load on a first predetermined pin of said I/O connector, and accordingly to connect said power supply line from said battery to a second predetermined pin of said I/O connector;
a cable for connecting to said I/O connector; and
at least one external data peripheral which includes a signal connector for connecting to said I/O connector of said system chassis through said cable, and which is connected to draw power from said battery via said I/O connector and said signal connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system including an input/output (I/O) connector for connecting to an external data peripheral, where the computer includes circuitry for detecting the presence or absence of a load on a first pin and for providing power to the external data peripheral through a second pin of the I/O connector. In this manner, the external data peripheral need not include a separate power supply, but instead is sensed and powered by the computer itself through the I/O connector. In the preferred embodiment, the I/O connector is coupled to parallel port circuitry for interfacing to an external printer, and also to a floppy controller for interfacing with an external floppy drive, where the computer system further includes circuitry to switch from the printer controller to the floppy controller when an external floppy drive is connected to the I/O connector. In this manner, the same I/O port automatically serves either an external printer or an external floppy drive.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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a chassis which includes; at least one battery, and at least one external power connection, and power supply circuitry connected to provide power from said battery or said external power connection through a power supply line; at least one multiline I/O connector mounted on said chassis, said I/O connector including a plurality of pins; and circuitry connected to detect a presence or absence of a load on a first predetermined pin of said I/O connector, and accordingly to connect said power supply line from said battery to a second predetermined pin of said I/O connector; a cable for connecting to said I/O connector; and at least one external data peripheral which includes a signal connector for connecting to said I/O connector of said system chassis through said cable, and which is connected to draw power from said battery via said I/O connector and said signal connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system, comprising:
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a chassis which includes; at least one central processing unit (CPU); at least one battery, and at least one external power connection, and power supply circuitry connected to said CPU to provide power from said battery or said external power connection; and a plurality of input/output devices operatively connected to said CPU, including at least one multiline I/O connector mounted on said chassis; a cable for connecting to said I/O connector; and at least one external data peripheral which includes a signal connector for connecting to said I/O connector of said system chassis through said cable, and which is connected to draw power solely from said battery through said signal connector and said cable; wherein said CPU controls said power supply circuitry, to selectively supply power to said external data peripheral, as determined by software running on said CPU. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer system, comprising:
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a system chassis which includes; at least one central processing unit (CPU); at least one battery, and at least one external power connection, and power supply circuitry connected to said CPU to provide power from said battery or said external power connection through a power supply line; a plurality of input/output devices, including at least one multiline I/O connector having a plurality of pins mounted on said system chassis; and circuitry connected to detect a presence or absence of a load on a first predetermined pin of said I/O connector, and accordingly to connect said power supply line from said battery to a second predetermined pin of said I/O connector; a cable for connecting to said I/O connector; and at least one external data peripheral which includes a signal connector for connecting to said I/O connector of said system chassis through said cable, and which is connected to draw power solely from said battery through said signal connector and said cable; and wherein said power supply circuitry supplies power to said external data peripheral, as enabled by said CPU. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification