Function expansion unit capable of supplying power to computer
First Claim
1. An electronic equipment to which an external equipment is detachably connected through a power connector, said electronic equipment including internal circuit components, comprising:
- power supply means, coupled to the power connector and the internal circuit components, for supplying an external power to said external equipment through the power connector and supplying an internal power to said internal circuit components; and
switching means, coupled to said power supply means, for detecting whether an amount of the internal power supplied from said power supply means exceeds a predetermined value and preventing the external power from being supplied to said external equipment when the amount of the internal power exceeds said predetermined value, thereby enabling said power supply means to supply the internal power for a normal operation of said internal circuit components.
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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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic equipment to which an external equipment is detachably connected through a power connector, said electronic equipment including internal circuit components, comprising:
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power supply means, coupled to the power connector and the internal circuit components, for supplying an external power to said external equipment through the power connector and supplying an internal power to said internal circuit components; and switching means, coupled to said power supply means, for detecting whether an amount of the internal power supplied from said power supply means exceeds a predetermined value and preventing the external power from being supplied to said external equipment when the amount of the internal power exceeds said predetermined value, thereby enabling said power supply means to supply the internal power for a normal operation of said internal circuit components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electronic equipment to which an external equipment is detachably connected through a power connector, comprising:
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an internal circuit component variably consuming power; power supply means, coupled to the power connector and said internal circuit component, for supplying an external power to said external equipment through the power connector and supplying an internal power to said internal circuit component; means, coupled to said power supply means, for detecting that an amount of the internal power supplied from said power supply means exceeds a predetermined value; and means, coupled to said detecting means, for preventing the external power from being supplied to said external equipment while said detecting means detects that the amount exceeds the predetermined value, thereby enabling said power supply means to supply the internal power for a normal operation of said internal circuit component. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic equipment to which an external equipment is detachably connected through a power connector and to which a circuit board is detachably connected through an expansion connector, the circuit board including an internal circuit component variably consuming power, comprising:
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power supply means, coupled to the power connector and the circuit board, for supplying an external power to said external equipment through the power connector and supplying an internal power to said internal circuit component through the expansion connector; means, coupled to said power supply means, for detecting whether an amount of the internal power supplied from said power supply means exceeds a predetermined value; and means, coupled to said detecting means, for preventing the external power from being supplied to said external equipment while said detecting means detects that the amount of internal power supplied from said power supply means exceeds the predetermined value, thereby enabling said power supply means to supply the internal power for a normal operation of said internal circuit component. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. In an electronic equipment in which an external equipment is detachably connected through a power connector, and a power supply circuit supplies an external power to said external equipment through the power connector and supplies an internal power to an internal circuit component variably consuming the internal power, a method of ensuring a normal operation of the internal circuit component, comprising the steps of:
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measuring a current value of the internal power supplied from said power supply circuit to said internal circuit component; comparing the measured current value with a predetermined reference value; and preventing the external power from being supplied to said external equipment when the measured current value exceeds the predetermined reference value. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. In an electronic equipment in which an external equipment is detachably connected to a power supply circuit through a power connector and a circuit board, including an internal circuit component which variably consumes power supplied to said internal circuit component, is detachably connected through an expansion connector to said power supply circuit, said power supply circuit supplying an external power to said external equipment through the power connector and supplying an internal power to said internal circuit component through the expansion connector, a method of ensuring a normal operation of the internal circuit component, comprising the steps of:
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measuring a current value of the internal power supplied from said power supply circuit; comparing the measured current value with a predetermined reference value; and preventing the external power from being supplied to said external equipment through said power connector while the amount of the measured current value exceeds the predetermined reference value. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. An expansion unit for expanding a function of a portable computer removably connected to the expansion unit, comprising:
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an expansion component having an internal circuit component; a power supply circuit supplying a first power to the portable computer and a second power to the internal circuit component; a detector which detects the second power supplied from the power supply circuit; and a controller which prevents supply of the first power to the portable computer when the detector detects that the second power exceeds a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification