Electronic apparatus

• US 6,894,893 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Hidesawa, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US09/947,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20020006750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/684, 361/686, 361/727, 361/752, 361724-726, 429 96-100, 161/105, 162/23, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 200/52.R, 439/500, 320/2, 320/112
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• 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
• 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: G06K 1/128 by electric registration, e.g. electrolytic, spark erosion recording apparatus for measuring instruments G01D15/06; information storage in general G11
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electronic apparatus has a first attachment portion to which a first component can be attached to the front of the apparatus body, and a second attachment portion which has a substantially same construction as the first attachment portion and to which a second component can be attached to the rear of the apparatus body. Thus, the first component and the second component can be attached the electronic apparatus to thereby improve the performance of the electronic apparatus. When the first and second components are battery packs, two battery packs of the same shape can be attached to the electronic apparatus.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising a first attachment portion which is provided along an entire first side of an apparatus body and to which a first battery pack can be attached externally to the apparatus body, and a second attachment portion which is provided along an entire second side of said apparatus body which is opposite said first side and has a substantially same structure as the first attachment portion, and to which a second battery pack can be attached externally to the apparatus body.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first attachment portion has a first connector for electrically connecting the first battery pack to the apparatus body and a first mechanical connection means for mechanically connecting the first battery pack to the apparatus body, and the second attachment portion has a second connector for electrically connecting the second battery pack to the apparatus body and a second mechanical connection means for mechanically connecting the second battery pack to the apparatus body, the relationship between the first connector and the first mechanical connection means being substantially the same as the relationship between the second connector and the second mechanical connection means.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first battery pack has a generally same appearance and shape as the second battery pack.

4. An information processing apparatus comprising a first attachment portion which is provided in an apparatus body and to which a first battery pack can be attached, and a second attachment portion which is provided in the apparatus body at a position different from the first attachment portion and has a substantially same structure as the first attachment portion, and to which a second battery pack can be attached,

wherein the first attachment portion is located at the front of the apparatus body and the second attachment portion is located at the rear of the apparatus body, and wherein the first and the second battery packs can be detachably attached to the apparatus body from outside the apparatus body.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first battery pack and the second battery pack extend along the front and the rear, respectively, of the apparatus body.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first battery pack and the second battery pack have lengths not less than half the length of the front or the rear of the apparatus body.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first attachment portion has a first connector for electrically connecting the first battery pack to the apparatus body and a first mechanical connecting portion for mechanically connecting the first battery pack to the apparatus body, and the second attachment portion has a second connector for electrically connecting the second battery pack to the apparatus body and a second mechanical connecting portion for mechanically connecting the second battery pack to the apparatus body, the relationship between the first connector and the first mechanical connecting portion being substantially the same as the relationship between the second connector and the second mechanical connecting portion.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first battery pack has a generally same appearance and shape as the second battery pack.

7. An information processing apparatus comprising a first attachment portion which is provided in an apparatus body and to which a first battery pack can be attached, and a second attachment portion which is provided in the apparatus body at a position different from the first attachment portion and has a substantially same structure as the first attachment portion, and to which a second battery pack can be attached,

wherein the information processing apparatus is a notebook type information processing apparatus having a part including a keyboard and another part including a display and pivotally attached to the part including the keyboard, and

wherein the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion are provided at the front and the rear of the part including the keyboard.

8. An information processing apparatus comprising a first attachment portion which is provided in an apparatus body and to which a first battery pack can be attached, and a second attachment portion which is provided in the apparatus body at a position different from the first attachment portion and has a substantially same structure as the first attachment portion, and to which a second battery pack can be attached,

wherein the information processing apparatus is a notebook type information processing apparatus having a part including a keyboard and another part including a display and pivotally attached to the part including the keyboard, and

wherein the first battery pack and the second battery pack have an engaging portion, and the part including the display has locking means capable of being engaged with the engaging portion of one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack attached to the front of the part including the keyboard when the part including the display is closed onto the part including the keyboard.

11. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an apparatus body;

a first battery pack detachably attached to a front of the apparatus body from outside the apparatus body; and

a second battery pack detachably attached to a rear of the apparatus body from outside the apparatus body.

12. An information processing apparatus having a part including a keyboard and another part including a display and pivotably attached to the part including the keyboard, comprising:

a first component detachably attached to a front of the part including the keyboard; and

a second component detachably attached to a rear of the part including the keyboard.

13. An information processing apparatus having a part including a keyboard and another part including a display and pivotably attached to the part including the keyboard, comprising:

a first battery pack detachably attached to a front of the part including the keyboard; and

a second battery pack detachably attached to a rear of the part including the keyboard,

wherein the first battery pack and the second battery pack have engaging portion, and the part including the display has locking means capable of being engaged with the engaging portion of one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack attached to the front of the part including the keyboard when the part including the display is closed onto the part including the keyboard.

14. An information processing apparatus having a part including a keyboard and another part including a display and pivotably attached to the part including the keyboard, comprising:

a first battery pack detachably attached to a front of the part including the keyboard; and

a second battery pack detachably attached to a rear of the part including the keyboard.