Portable computer having a radio function and related method

• US 6,185,690 B1
• Filed: 07/29/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Jong-Il
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Application Number:
  US09/124,028
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300-340
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675

Abstract

A portable computer has a radio function implemented by a radio set included therein. The portable computer also has a switch for selecting main power for the entire system or a radio power for the a radio set, a micro-controller for outputting a power supply selecting signal and a sound source selecting signal according to the operational state of the switch unit, a power branching unit for branching and outputting power into main power to operate the portable computer or into radio power to play the radio set according to the power supply selecting signal outputted from the micro-controller, and a sound source selecting unit for selecting and outputting a signal from the radio set or a signal from the portable computer according to the sound source selecting signal received from the micro-controller.

Claims

1. A portable computer having a radio function provided by a radio set included therein, said portable computer comprising:

micro-controller means for outputting a power supply selecting signal and a sound source selecting signal according to an operational state selected by a user;

power branching means for branching and outputting power selectively into the main power to operate the portable computer and into the radio power to play the radio set according to the power supply selecting signal outputted from the micro-controller means; and

sound source selecting means for selectively outputting a signal from the radio set and a signal from the portable computer according to the sound source selecting signal outputted from the micro-controller means.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the micro-controller means selectively outputs a main power supply signal and a main sound source selecting signal, on the one hand, and outputs a radio power supply signal and a radio sound source selecting signal, on the other hand, according to the operational state selected by the user.

3. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising:

sound source alteration switch means, connected to the sound source selecting means, for outputting a sound source altering signal to alter a voice signal outputted from the sound source selecting means to provide another voice signal.

4. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the sound source selecting means selects a first voice signal as the sound source and outputs it upon receiving a second voice signal, and selects a second voice signal as the sound source and outputs it upon receiving a first voice signal, according to the sound source altering signal received from the sound source alteration switch means.

5. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising switch means for selecting main power for said portable computer and radio power for said radio set.

6. A portable computer having a radio function provided by a radio set included therein, said portable computer comprising:

a micro-controller means for outputting a sound source selecting signal according to an operational state selected by a user;

sound source selecting means for selectively outputting a signal from a radio set and a signal from the portable computer according to the sound selecting signal outputted from the micro-controller means; and

sound source alteration switch means connected to the sound source selecting means for outputting a sound source altering signal to alter a voice signal outputted from the sound source selecting means to provide another voice signal.

7. The portable computer of claim 6, further comprising switch means for selecting main power for said portable computer and radio power for said radio set.

8. The portable computer of claim 6, wherein the micro-controller means selectively outputs a main power supply signal and a main sound source selecting signal, on the one hand, and outputs a radio power supply signal and a radio sound source selecting signal, on the other hand, according to the operational state selected by the user.

9. The portable computer of claim 6, wherein the sound source selecting means selects a first voice signal as the sound source and outputs it upon receiving a second voice signal, and selects a second voice signal as the sound source and outputs it upon receiving a first voice signal, according to the sound source altering signal received from the sound source alteration switch means.

10. A method for operating a portable computer having a radio function provided by a radio set included therein, said method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a main power switch or a radio power switch of said portable computer is turned on;

when said main power switch is turned on, supplying power to the portable computer and booting the portable computer; and

when said radio power switch is turned on, supplying power to the radio set and outputting a first voice signal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps, after booting said portable computer, of:

determining whether the radio set is in operation;

when the radio set is in operation, outputting the first voice signal; and

when the radio set is not in operation, outputting a second voice signal.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a sound source altering signal is inputted;

when the sound source altering signal is inputted, determining whether a second voice signal comprises a sound source;

when the second voice signal comprises the sound source, outputting the first voice signal; and

when the second voice signal does not comprise the sound source, outputting a second voice signal.

13. A method of operating a portable computer having a radio function provided by a radio set included therein, said method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a main power switch or a radio power switch of said portable computer is turned off;

when the main power switch is turned off, determining whether the radio set is in operation and, when said radio set is in operation, outputting a first voice signal; and

when the radio power switch is turned off, determining whether the portable computer is in operation and, when the portable computer is in operation, outputting a second voice signal.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

when the radio set is not in operation, cutting off power provided to the portable computer and, when the radio set is in operation, cutting off the power provided to the portable computer after the step of outputting the first voice signal; and

when the portable computer is not in operation, cutting off power provided to the radio set and, when the portable computer is in operation, cutting off power provided to the radio set after the step of outputting the second voice signal.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a sound source altering signal is inputted;

when the sound source altering signal is inputted, determining whether a second voice signal comprises a sound source;

when the second voice signal comprises the sound source, outputting the first voice signal; and

when the second voice signal does not comprise the sound source, outputting a second voice signal.

16. A method of operating a portable computer having a radio function provided by a radio set included therein, said method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a sound source altering signal is inputted;

when the sound source altering signal is not inputted, repeating the step of determining whether the sound source altering signal is inputted;

when the sound source altering signal is inputted, determining whether a second voice signal comprises a sound source;

when the second voice signal comprises the sound source, outputting a first voice signal; and

when the second voice signal does not comprise the sound source, outputting a second voice signal.