Portable computer powered by rechargeable batteries

• US 5,553,294 A
• Filed: 06/07/1993
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Mason, James, Takeguchi, K ouichirou, Ootake, Atsuhiro, Oka, Mayumi, Ando, Makoto, Yamanaka, Yuji, Suzuki, Yoshiaki, Saito, Toshimitsu, Nanno, Nobuyuki, Akashi, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, George B.
• Application Number:
  US08/072,689
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 395/750, 364/200, 364/707, 365/226, 365/229, 307/60, 307/66, 307/65, 307/157
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

When a computer is not externally powered, it operates from installed first and second batteries. In top surface of the computer, LEDs are provided which indicates three states of each battery; need of charging, during charging, and completion of charging.

Claims

1. A portable computer powered by batteries, comprising:

a first rechargeable battery for outputting power;

a second rechargeable battery for outputting power;

operating power generating means for selecting one of said first and second rechargeable batteries and generating operating power from said selected one of said first and second rechargeable batteries;

detecting means for detecting whether said first and second rechargeable batteries need charging;

indicating means for indicating a charging state of each of said first and second rechargeable batteries, said charging state being one of (a) need of charging and (b) completion of charging, and (c) low battery when both of said first and second rechargeable batteries need charging.

2. A portable computer according to claim 1, wherein said indicating means includes:

a first light-emitting element for indicating the charging state of said first rechargeable battery; and

a second light-emitting element for indicating the charging state of said second rechargeable battery.

3. A portable computer according to claim 2, wherein

when said first rechargeable battery needs charging after said second rechargeable battery needs charging, said first light-emitting element flickers, and

when said second rechargeable battery needs charging after said first rechargeable battery needs charging, said second light-emitting element flickers.

4. A portable computer according to claim 2, said portable computer further comprising a main body with a keyboard and a display section pivotally mounted to said main body to allow and closing, wherein:

said first and second light-emitting elements are positioned to be externally visible irrespective of the opening and closing of said display section.

5. A portable computer according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving means for receiving external power from outside the computer; and

charging means for charging at least one of said first and second rechargeable batteries which needs charging, with the external power received by said receiving means.

6. A portable computer according to claim 5, wherein said indicating means is capable of indicating a state of (d) charging, for each of said first and second rechargeable batteries.

7. A portable computer according to claim 1, wherein said portable computer, when in operation, is using said first or second rechargeable batteries as a source of power, and further comprising means for turning off the power to the portable computer with a specified delay when both of said first and second rechargeable batteries are in need of charging.

8. A portable computer according to claim 1, wherein said indicating means further indicates which of said first and second rechargeable batteries is selected by said operating power generating means.

9. A portable computer powered by batteries comprising:

a computer main body;

a first rechargeable battery detachably installed in said computer main body;

a second rechargeable battery detachably installed in said computer main body;

operating power generating means for selecting one of said first and second rechargeable batteries and generating operating power from said selected one of said first and second rechargeable batteries;

first detecting means for detecting whether each of said first and second rechargeable batteries is installed in said computer main body;

second detecting means for detecting whether each of said first and second rechargeable batteries needs charging;

indicating means for indicating a charging state of each said first and second rechargeable batteries, said charging state being one of (a) not installed, (b) need of charging, and (c) completion of charging, and (d) low battery when both of said first and second rechargeable batteries need charging.

10. A portable computer according to claim 9, wherein said indicating means includes:

a first light-emitting element for indicating the charging state of said first rechargeable battery; and

a second light-emitting element for indicating the charging state of said second rechargeable battery.

11. A portable computer according to claim 10, wherein

when said first rechargeable battery needs charging after said second rechargeable battery needs charging, said first light-emitting element flickers, and

when said second rechargeable battery needs charging after said first rechargeable battery needs charging, said second light-emitting element starts flickers.

12. A portable computer powered by batteries comprising:

a computer main body;

a first rechargeable battery detachably installed in said computer main body;

a second rechargeable battery detachably installed in said computer main body;

operating power generating means for selecting one of said first and second rechargeable batteries and generating operating power from said selected one of said first and second rechargeable batteries;

first detecting means for detecting whether each of said first and second rechargeable batteries is installed in said computer main body;

second detecting means for detecting whether each of said first and second rechargeable batteries needs charging;

receiving means for receiving external power from outside the computer;

charging means for charging at least one of said first and second rechargeable batteries which needs charging, using the external power received by said receiving means;

indicating means for indicating a charging state of each said first and second rechargeable batteries, said charging state being one of (a) not installed, (b) need of charging, (c) charging, and (d) completion of charging, and (e) low battery when both of said first and second rechargeable batteries need charging.

13. A portable computer according to claim 12, wherein said indicating means includes:

a first light-emitting element for indicating the charging state of said first rechargeable battery; and

a second light-emitting element for indicating the charging state of said second rechargeable battery.

14. A portable computer according to claim 13, wherein

when said first rechargeable battery comes to need charging while said second rechargeable battery needs charging, said first light-emitting element starts flickering, and

when said second rechargeable battery comes to need charging while said first rechargeable battery needs charging, said second light-emitting element starts flickering.