Electronic equipment and electronic equipment system

• US 6,119,184 A
• Filed: 09/09/1997
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takahama, Shinichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEAN, FRANTZ B
• Application Number:
  US08/925,614
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 395/281, 395/282, 395/283, 361/683, 361/686, 361/392, 710/101, 710/102, 710/103, 360/105, 360/104, 713/340
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A locking system has a double locking mechanisms such that when a main body of an electronic equipment and an extension device are combined, an operability similar to that in case of using a single equipment is maintained and the combination is not separated at the time of carrying and which enables a more intelligent control by a built-in MPU and in which a high reliability is obtained. In an electronic equipment system in which a main body and an extension device are freely combined, an open-close-lever which is interlocked with movable claws is arranged on the side surface of the extension device, retaining holes to fix the movable claws are formed in the main body, an electronic locking unit comprising a mechanism having a cam portion adapted to lock the opening or closing of the lever and an electronic motor for making the cam operative is installed in the extension device. The movable claws couple and fix the main body and the extension device by closing the open-close-lever. At the time of the power-ON of the main body and extension device, an electronic locking acts, thereby disabling the locking to be released, and at the time of the power-OFF, the locking can be released. A connecting state between the electronic equipment and the extension device is discriminated from two sensors for detecting the opening/closing of the open-close-lever and the latching of the electronic locking.

Claims

1. An electronic equipment to/from which an extension device for extending a function can be freely attached and detached, comprising:

connecting means for mechanically connecting said extension device to a main body of said electronic equipment;

locking means for locking a release of the connecting of said connecting means;

switching means for indicating supply/stop of a power supply to said main body; and

release indicating means for, when a supply of the power supply is indicated by said switching means, indicating a release of the connecting of said extension device, and wherein at the time of indicating a stop of the power supply by said switching means when the release of the connecting of said extension device is indicated by said release indicating means, a locking of said locking means is released.

2. An equipment according to claim 1, further comprising communicating means, for transmitting information to drive said extension device in an interlocked relation with driving of said electronic equipment, from said electronic equipment to said extension device.

3. An equipment according to claim 1, wherein a power supply line between said electronic equipment and said extension device is electronically connected and disconnected by an operation of said connecting means.

4. An equipment according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first sensor for detecting a state of connection of said connecting means;

a second sensor for detecting a state of the locking of said locking means,

stopping means for, when a state of disconnecting of said connecting means is detected by said first sensor, stopping a supply of the power supply, and

inhibiting means for inhibiting said stopping means, when a state of the locking of said locking means is detected by said second sensor.

5. An equipment according to claim 4, wherein when said locking means is in a locking state at the time of the power ON, locking is released.

6. An equipment according to claim 4, wherein when the locking is not locked within a predetermined time after said locking means is activated, a driving torque is raised and said locking means is again activated.

7. An equipment according to claim 6, wherein when the locking is not locked even after a re-activation of said locking means is performed a predetermined number of times, it is determined and indicated that said locking means or said sensor is failed.

8. An equipment according to claim 6, wherein the re-activation of said locking means is executed by raising the driving torque step by step.

9. An equipment according to claim 1, wherein when said electronic equipment is solely driven without attaching said extension device, said locking means is locked.

10. An equipment according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means has a lever for locking, and said locking means latches said lever.

11. An equipment according to claim 10, wherein said locking means rotates a gear by a motor, thereby locking said connecting means.

12. An equipment according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises a first member and a movable second member.

13. An equipment according to claim 12, further comprising second connecting means formed in the vicinity of said second member, for electrically connecting said main body and said extension device.

14. An equipment according to claim 12, further comprising a recess portion formed on a back surface of said main body, for coming into engagement with said first member and said second member.

15. An electronic equipment system, comprising:

electronic equipment having a main body;

an extension device attachable to said electronic equipment;

connecting means for mechanically connecting said extension device to said main body of said electronic equipment;

locking means for locking a release of said connecting means;

switching means for indicating supply/stop of a power supply to said main body; and

release indicating means for, when a supply of the power supply is indicated by said switching means, indicating a release of the connecting of said extension device, and wherein at the time of indicating a stop of the power supply by said switching means, and at the time of indicating a supply of the power supply by said switching means when the release of the connecting of said extension device is indicated by said release indicating means, a locking of said locking means is released.

16. A system according to claim 15, further comprising communicating means, for transmitting information to drive said extension device in an interlocked relation with driving of said electronic equipment, from said electronic equipment to said extension device.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein a power supply line between said electronic equipment and said extension device is electronically connected and disconnected by an operation of said connecting means.

18. A system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a first sensor for detecting a state of connection of said connecting means

a second sensor for detecting a state of the locking of said locking means,

stopping means for, when a state of disconnecting of said connecting means is detected by said first sensor, stopping a supply of the power supply, and

inhibiting means for inhibiting said stopping means, when a state of the locking of said locking means is detected by said second sensor.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein when said locking means is in a locking state at the time of the power ON, locking is released.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein when the locking is not locked within a predetermined time after said locking means is activated, a driving torque is raised and said locking means is again activated.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein when the locking is not locked even after a reactivation of said locking means is performed a predetermined number of times, it is determined and indicated that said locking means or said sensor is failed.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein the re-activation of said locking means is executed by raising the driving torque step by step.

23. A system according to claim 15, wherein when said electronic equipment is solely driven without attaching said extension device, said locking means is locked.

24. A system according to claim 15, wherein said connecting means has a lever for locking, and said locking means latches said lever.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein said locking means rotates a gear by a motor, thereby locking said connecting means.

26. A system according to claim 15, wherein said connecting means comprises a first member and a movable second member.

27. A system according to claim 26, further comprising second connecting means formed in the vicinity of said second member, for electrically connecting said main body and said extension device.

28. A system according to claim 26, further comprising a recess portion formed on a back surface of said main body, for coming into engagement with said first member and said second member.