Host electronic equipment with internal power supply adapted for supplying power directly to peripherals

• US 5,838,559 A
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AM Group Corporation
• Original Assignee: AM Group Corporation
• Inventors: Lam, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US09/020,271
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 363/146, 363/147, 363/178, 307/25, 307/28, 307/38, 307/42, 307/150, 364/492
• US Class Current: 363/146
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network

Abstract

Electrical equipment such as a personal computer includes a plurality of internal components which require different voltages including low voltages of about five volts for operation. The different voltages are supplied by an internal power supply, with a voltage regulator, which is itself connected to an appropriately transformed high voltage supply typically from an in-the-wall source. Peripherals such as a FAX/modem, CD ROM, or tape recorder are powered by cables plugged into mating sockets in the face of the computer housing. The sockets, in turn, are connected to the appropriate outputs of the internal power supply to obtain appropriate voltage power directly from the host computer in the absence of a transformed connection to a house supply. A switch is provided at each of the sockets to vary the voltage there.

Claims

1. A power supply for internal connection in a system having a plurality of components which require different DC voltages for operation, said power supply including a housing, said power supply also including a plurality of wires extending through said housing for permanent connection to respective ones of said components, said power supply having at the face of said housing sockets for mating with external connectors to peripheral equipment, said power supply including means for providing different DC voltages on said wires and at said sockets.

2. A power supply for internal connection in a system having a plurality of components which require different DC voltages for operation, said power supply including a housing, said power supply including therein a plurality of connections each for providing one of said required different DC voltages, said power supply also including a plurality of wires extending through said housing, each of said plurality of wires being connected to a corresponding one of said connections, said power supply having at the face of said housing sockets for mating with external connectors to peripheral equipment, said sockets also being connected to ones of said connections for providing a different DC voltage at each of said sockets.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said apparatus is a computer and said peripherals include a FAX/MODEM.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said connectors are sockets of like configuration.

5. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said connectors are sockets of different configuration.

6. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said apparatus comprises a stereo system amplifier and said peripherals includes a CD ROM.

7. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said low voltage comprises about five volts.

8. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said low voltage comprises about twelve volts.

9. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said low voltage comprises about nine volts.