Portable information device and charger therefor

• US 5,942,877 A
• Filed: 01/29/1997
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nishimura, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIN, KYUNG E
• Application Number:
  US08/789,420
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/107, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 320/155, 320/127, 320/128, 320/133, 320/137, 429/7, 429/8, 429/90, 429/61
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/14 Time supervision arrangements, e.g. real time clock
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

A portable information device includes a portable main part having a clocking function, a source part which is detachably attachable to the main part and contains secondary batteries serving as a power source for the main part, and a charger which is separate from the main part and serves to charge the source part. The charger includes a clock part for setting time, and the information device is adapted to cause time data from the clock part to be transmitted to the source part when the source part is charged by the charger and, when the source part is attached to the main part, to transmit time data updated by the source part to the main part and to thereafter cause the main part to continue updating the time data.

Claims

1. A portable information device comprising:

a portable main part having a clocking function;

a source part which is detachably attachable to said main part and contains secondary batteries serving as a power source for said main part; and

a charger which is separate from said main part and serves to charge said source part, said charger including a clock part for setting time, said information device being adapted to transmit time data from said clock part to said source part when said source part is charged by said charger, said information device being further adapted, when said source part is attached to said main part, to cause time data updated by said source part to be transmitted to said main part and to thereafter cause said main part to continue updating said time data.

2. The portable information device of claim 1 wherein said main part includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said clocking function ceasing to function when said source part experiences a voltage drop or is removed from said main part such that said main part stops being able to function.

3. A portable information device comprising:

a portable main part with a clocking function, containing a source part having rechargeable secondary batteries; and

a charger which is separate from said main part and serves to charge said source part, said charger including a clock part for setting time, said information device being adapted to cause time data from said clock part to be transmitted to said main part when said source part in said main part is charged by said charger, and to thereafter cause said main part to continue updating said time data.

4. The portable information device of claim 3 wherein said main part includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said clocking function ceasing to function when said source part experiences a voltage drop such that said main part stops being able to function.

5. A portable information device comprising:

a portable main part with a clocking function;

a source part which is detachably attachable to said main part and contains primary batteries serving as a power source for said main part; and

a clock device which is separate from said main part and is capable of setting time, said information device being adapted to cause time data from said clock device to be transmitted through said source part to said main part and to thereafter cause said main part to continue updating said time data.

6. The portable information device of claim 5 wherein said main part includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said clocking function ceasing to function when said source part experiences a voltage drop or is removed from said main part such that said main part stops being able to function.

7. A portable information device comprising:

a portable main part with a clocking function, said main part including a clocking control part and a source part, said source part serving as a power source for said clocking function but not containing any backup batteries for said power source; and

a clock device which is separate from said main part and includes a clock device for setting time, said clocking control part serving to receive clock data from said clock device at least once after said source part is charged to a specified level and to thereafter carry out said clocking function based on the received clock data.

8. The portable information device of claim 7 wherein said main part includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, said clocking function ceasing to function when said source part experiences a voltage drop such that said main part stops being able to function.

9. A charger for charging a source part of a portable main part of an information device having a clocking function and being separate from said main part and provided with rechargeable secondary batteries, said charger comprising:

a clock part for setting time; and

a signal transmitting circuit for transmitting time data from said clock part to said main part and thereafter causing said main part to keep updating said time data.

10. The charger of claim 9 wherein said time data are transmitted from said clock part to said main part directly without passing through said source part and said signal transmitting circuit is adapted to transmit said time data by serial transmission.

11. The charger of claim 9 wherein said time data are transmitted from said clock part to said main part directly without passing through said source part and said signal transmitting circuit in adapted to transmit said time data through wireless means.

12. The charger of claim 9 wherein said time data are transmitted from said clock part to said main part through said source part and said signal transmitting circuit in adapted to transmit said time data by serial transmission.

13. The charger of claim 9 wherein said time data are transmitted from said clock part to said main part through said source part and said signal transmitting circuit in adapted to transmit said time data through wireless means.

14. A clock device which is separate from a portable information device having a clocking function, said clock device comprising:

a clock part for setting time; and

a signal transmitting circuit for transmitting time data by serial transmission from said clock part to said information device and thereafter causing said information device to keep updating said time data.

15. The clock device of claim 14 wherein said signal transmitting circuit in adapted to transmit said time data through wireless means.