Information processor

• US 6,469,891 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sawamura, Shinʼichi, Eguchi, Yoshiaki, Iwami, Naoko, Takita, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOSTER, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US09/516,503
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683-686, 361/724-727, 361/754, 361/759, 361/814, 379/429, 379/434, 455/73, 455/84, 455/89, 455/45, 455/348, 455/346, 429/96, 429/97, 429/99, 429/100, 312/223.1, 312/223.2
• US Class Current: 361/679.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An information processing apparatus which provides a part of an additional interface in the power module and makes connection to an external device through the power module. The body of the apparatus is made to be lightweight and miniaturized. If installation of another interface is necessary, this can be realized by changing the power module.

Claims

1. An information processor having a body including a CPU for executing a program, a memory for storing said program and data, a display part for displaying a result of execution of said program, an I/O part for controlling a key input, and a power module for providing electrical power to said body and being removable from said body,

said body comprising:

at least one interface pin and at least one power pin provided in a connection part of said body for connecting to said power module;

said power module comprising;

at least one interface pin and at least one power pin provided in a connection part of said power module for connecting to said body, and

at least one interface pin and at least one power pin provided in a connection part of said power module for connecting to an external device,

wherein said interface executes serial communication.

2. An information processor having a body including a CPU for executing a program, a memory for storing said program and data, a display part for displaying a result of execution of said program, an I/O part for controlling a key input, and a power module for providing electrical power to said body and being removable from said body,

said body comprising:

at least one interface pin and at least one power pin provided in a connection part of said body for connecting to said power module;

said power module comprising;

at least one interface pin and at least one power pin provided in a connection part of said power module for connecting to said body, and

at least one interface pin and at least one power pin provided in a connection part of said power module for connecting to an external device,

wherein said interface executes parallel communication.

3. An information processor having a body including a CPU for executing a program, a memory for storing said program and data, a display part for displaying a result of execution of said program, an I/O part for controlling a key input, and a power module for providing electrical power to said body and being removable from said body,

said body comprising:

at least one interface pin and at least one power pin provided in a connection part of said body for connecting to said power module;

said power module comprising;

at least one interface pin and at least one power pin provided in a connection part of said power module for connecting to said body,

at least one interface pin and at least one power pin provided in a connection part of said power module for connecting to an external device, and

HUB means disposed in said power module for connecting a plurality of communication lines to communication lines in said body.

4. An information processor according to claim 3, said power module further comprises at least two connection parts of external interface.

5. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body for processing information; and

a power module for providing electrical power to said body and being removable from said body,

wherein said body comprises;

a first connecting means for connecting to said power module;

wherein said power module comprises;

a second connecting means for connecting to said body, and

a third connecting means for connecting to an external device, and

wherein said body is capable of accessing said external device through said power module.

6. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body including a central processing unit (CPU) for executing a program, a memory for storing said program and data, a display part for displaying execution result of said program, an input/output (I/O) part for controlling key input, a connecting portion having at least one of a plurality of interface pins and at least one of a plurality of power pins included in a connection part of said body for connecting said body to a power module;

said power module, which is attachable to said body, including a battery, a first connecting portion having at least one of said interface pins and at least one of said battery pins included in a connection part of said power module for connecting said power module to said body, and a second connecting portion having at least one of interface pints and at least one of said battery pins included in a connection part of said power module for connecting said power module to an external device; and

said external device, which is attachable to said power module, including a connecting portion having at least one of said interface pins and at least one of said power pins included in a connection part of said external device for connecting said external device to said power module,

wherein said body is capable of accessing said external device through said power module.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, said power module further comprising:

control means for controlling access from said body to a memory in said power module based on key information.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, said power module further comprising:

connection means for transmitting and receiving data by connecting to another device.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said information processor is a handy phone.