Electronic apparatus using the power supply line of a serial bus, for supplying and providing power appropriately

• US 6,087,804 A
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Suda, Junichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/335,500
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/128, 320/137, 320/138
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

In an electronic apparatus comprising a power supply controller, a power supply circuit, a battery, and a host controller, when power is supplied to the apparatus through an AC power supply line, the power supply controller causes the power supply circuit to supply power to the main section and battery of the apparatus and to the power supply line of a serial bus. When no power is supplied to the apparatus through the AC power supply line and power is supplied to the apparatus through the power supply line of the serial bus, the power supply controller determines the amount of power to be consumed by the main section of the apparatus and the amount of power to charge battery with, from the amount of power represented by data supplied from the host controller, which represents the amount of power the power supply line of the serial bus can supply. The power supply controller controls the power supply circuit in accordance with the amount of power thus determined. When no power is supplied to the apparatus through the AC power supply line or the power supply line of the serial bus, the power supply controller controls the power supply circuit to supply power from the battery to the main section of the apparatus.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus which can be driven by a battery and to which a serial bus having a data line and a power supply line is connected when necessary, said apparatus comprising:

a serial bus controller connectable to the data line;

a power supply circuit connectable to the power supply line; and

a power supply controller for performing data communication with the serial bus controller and for controlling the power supply circuit,

wherein said serial bus controller comprises means for detecting whether any other electronic apparatus capable of supplying power is connected to the serial bus while the serial bus is connected to the electronic apparatus, and means for supplying the power supply controller with data indicating that another electronic apparatus is connected to the electronic apparatus, when it is detected that another electronic apparatus capable of supplying power is connected to the electronic apparatus; and

said power supply controller comprises means for causing the power supply circuit to charge the battery with the power supplied through the power supply line, when the power supply controller receives the data indicating that another electronic apparatus is connected to the electronic apparatus.

2. An electronic apparatus which can be driven by a battery and to which an AC power supply line and a serial bus having a data line and a power supply line are connected when necessary, said apparatus comprising:

a serial bus controller connectable to the data line;

a power supply circuit connectable to the AC power supply line and the power supply line; and

a power supply controller for performing data communication with the serial bus controller and for controlling the power supply circuit,

wherein said serial bus controller comprises means for detecting whether any other electronic apparatus capable of supplying power is connected to the serial bus while the serial bus is connected to the electronic apparatus, and means for supplying the power supply controller with data indicating that another electronic apparatus is connected to the electronic apparatus, when it is detected that another electronic apparatus capable of supplying power is connected to the electronic apparatus; and

said power supply controller comprises means for detecting whether power is being supplied from the AC power supply line, and means for causing the power supply circuit to charge the battery with the power supplied through the power supply line, when the power supply controller receives data indicating that another electronic apparatus is connected to the electronic apparatus, while it is detected that no power is being supplied from the AC power supply line.

3. An electronic apparatus which can be driven by a battery and to which a serial bus having a data line and a power supply line is connected when necessary, said apparatus comprising:

a serial bus controller connectable to the data line;

a power supply circuit connectable to the power supply line; and

a power supply controller for performing data communication with the serial bus controller and for controlling the power supply circuit,

wherein said serial bus controller comprises means for detecting whether any other electronic apparatus capable of supplying power is connected to the serial bus and for determining an amount of power that the other electronic apparatus is able to supply, while the serial bus is connected to the electronic apparatus, and means for supplying the power supply controller with data indicating that another electronic apparatus is connected to the electronic apparatus, together with data representing the amount of power determined, when it is detected that another electronic apparatus capable of supplying power is connected to the electronic apparatus; and

said power supply controller comprises means for determining an amount of power with which the battery is to be charged, from the amount of power represented by the data, and means for causing the power supply circuit to charge the battery with the amount of power thus determined, supplied through the power supply line.

4. An electronic apparatus which can be driven by a battery and to which a serial bus having a data line and a power supply line is connected when necessary, said apparatus comprising:

a serial bus controller connectable to the data line;

a power supply circuit connectable to the power supply line; and

a power supply controller for performing data communication with the serial bus controller and for controlling the power supply circuit,

wherein said serial bus controller comprises means for detecting whether any other electronic apparatus requiring power from the serial bus is connected to the serial bus while the serial bus is connected to the electronic apparatus, and means for supplying the power supply controller with data indicating that another electronic apparatus is connected to the electronic apparatus, when it is detected that another electronic apparatus requiring power is connected to the electronic apparatus; and

said power supply controller comprises means for causing the power supply circuit to supply power from the battery to the power supply line, upon receipt of the data indicating that the other electronic apparatus requiring power is connected to the electronic apparatus.

5. An electronic apparatus which can be driven by a battery and to which a serial bus having a data line and a power supply line is connected when necessary, said apparatus comprising:

a serial bus controller connectable to the data line;

a power supply circuit connectable to the power supply line; and

a power supply controller for performing data communication with the serial bus controller and for controlling the power supply circuit,

wherein said serial bus controller comprises means for detecting whether any other electronic apparatus requiring power from the serial bus is connected to the serial bus while the serial bus is connected to the electronic apparatus, and for detecting an amount of power that the other electronic apparatus requires, and means for supplying the power supply controller with data indicating that another electronic apparatus requiring power is connected to the electronic apparatus, together with data representing the amount of power detected, when it is detected that another electronic apparatus requiring power is connected to the electronic apparatus; and

said power supply controller comprises means for determining an amount of power to be supplied from the battery to the power supply line, from the amount of power represented by the data supplied from the serial bus controller, and means for causing the power supply circuit to supply the amount of power, thus determined, from the battery to the power supply line.

6. An electronic apparatus which can be driven by a battery and to which a serial bus having a data line and a power supply line is connected when necessary, said apparatus comprising:

a serial bus controller connectable to the data line;

a power supply circuit connectable to the power supply line; and

a power supply controller for performing data communication with the serial bus controller and for controlling the power supply circuit,

wherein said serial bus controller comprises means for detecting whether any other electronic apparatus capable of supply power is connected to the serial bus and for determining an amount of power that the other electronic apparatus is able to supply, while the serial bus is connected to the electronic apparatus, and means for supplying the power supply controller with data indicating that another electronic apparatus is connected to the electronic apparatus, together with data representing the amount of power determined, when it is detected that another electronic apparatus capable of supplying power is connected to the electronic apparatus; and

said power supply controller comprises means for adjusting an amount of power which a main section of the electronic apparatus consumes, in accordance with the amount of power represented by the data supplied from the serial bus controller.