Electronic apparatus capable of using an external power source and a bus power source simultaneously

• US 6,934,863 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Inventors: Yin, Lao-To
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham, John R.
• Application Number:
  US10/267,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

An electronic apparatus capable of using an external power source and a power source from a bus, such as a universal serial bus (USB) power source, is disclosed. The external power source and the USB power source output a first and a second operating voltage to the electronic apparatus, respectively. The electronic apparatus includes a first group of devices operative at the first operating voltage, a second group of devices operative at the second operating voltage, and an input power control circuit. The input power control circuit is coupled to the first and second groups of devices, and is capable of being coupled to the external and the USB power sources. The input power control circuit is used for controlling the first and the second operating voltages in order to feed the first and second groups of devices with the first and the second operating voltages, respectively.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus capable of using an external power source and a universal serial bus (USB) power source, the electronic apparatus being coupled to both the external power source and the USB power source, the external power source outputting a first operating voltage, and the USB power source outputting a second operating voltage, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a first group of devices operated by the first operating voltage;

a second group of devices operated by the second operating voltage; and

an input power control circuit coupled to the external power source, the USB power source, the first group of devices, and the second group of the devices, the input power control circuit being used for controlling inputs of the first and the second operating voltages to the first and second groups of devices, respectively;

wherein the input power control circuit is used to feed the first operating voltage to the first group of devices and then feed the second operating voltage to the second group of devices.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input power control circuit comprises:

an external power control circuit, respectively coupled to the first group of devices and the external power source, the external power control circuit being used to control an input of the first operating voltage from the external power source to the first group of devices; and

a USB power control circuit coupled to the second group of devices, the external power control circuit, and the USB power source, the USB power control circuit being used for controlling an input of the second operating voltage from the USB power source to the second group of devices;

wherein when the first operating voltage is fed to the input power control circuit, the external power control circuit first feeds the first operating voltage to the first group of devices and then outputs a control signal to the USB power control circuit to allow the USB power control circuit to feed the second operating voltage to the second group of devices.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is a scanner.

4. An electronic apparatus, coupled to an external power source and a bus, the external power source outputting a first operating voltage to the electronic apparatus, and the bus providing data and a second operating voltage for the electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a first group of devices operated by the first operating voltage;

a second group of devices operated by the second operating voltage; and

an input power control circuit, coupled to the first group of devices, and the second group of devices, the external power source, and the bus, the input power control circuit being used for controlling the first and the second operating voltages in order to apply the first and the second operating voltages to the first group of devices and the second group of devices respectively,

wherein the input power control circuit first applies the first operating voltage to the first group of devices and then applies the second operating voltage to the second group of devices.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the input power control circuit comprises:

an external power control circuit, coupled to the first group of devices and the external power source, the external power control circuit being used for controlling the first operating voltage from the external power source in order to feed the first group of devices with the first operating voltage; and

a bus power control circuit, respectively coupled to the second group of devices, the external power control circuit, and the bus, the bus power control circuit being used for controlling the second operating voltage from the bus in order to feed the second group of devices with the second operating voltage;

wherein when the first operating voltage is fed to the input power control circuit, the external power control circuit first feeds the first operating voltage to the first group of devices and then outputs a control signal to the bus power control circuit in order to allow the bus power control circuit to feed the second operating voltage to the second group of devices.