Electronic device, unit using the same, and system

• US 6,945,452 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Katsuyuki, Kubota, Yoshiyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US09/862,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 235/132.R, 235/380, 235/441, 235/381, 235/492, 235/375, 235/61.PD, 235/382, 235/383, 235/384, 235/385, 711/115, 710/301
• US Class Current: 235/375
• 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

A main unit includes a file manager for inputting and outputting data files and an add-on driver for performing an extended function. The file manager and the add-on driver are connected to a first serial interface through respective protocol circuits. Input terminals of the first serial interface are connected to predetermined contacts of a connecting section, respectively. A power supply supplies power VCC and VSS to predetermined contacts in the connecting section. Data is exchanged with a register and a page buffer through a second serial interface provided in an electronic device. A read area at an arbitrary address in the register is used as an area in which a current value is written. A write area at the same address is used as an area in which a control signal is written. For example, a current suppliability bit and a function enabled bit are provided.

Claims

1. An electronic device for performing a function, comprising:

a register having a region for storing a current consumption value indicating a current that is to be drawn by said electronic device from a main unit during execution of the function; and

an interface configured for electrical connection to the main unit for outputting the current consumption value from said register for delivery to the main unit;

said register including a further region for storing permission information received from the main unit, the permission information indicating whether said electronic device is allowed to receive a driving current based on whether the current consumption value does not exceed a maximum driving current, and a still further region for storing function enablement information indicating whether the function is enabled or disabled, the function enablement information being set by said electronic device based on the permission information;

said interface receiving the driving current from the main unit based on the current consumption value when the function enablement information indicates that the function is enabled.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said interface outputs the function enablement information from said register for delivery to the main unit prior to receiving the driving current from the main unit.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the current consumption value stored by said register indicates the current that is to be drawn by said electronic device from the main unit during execution of a plurality of functions, and when the current consumption value exceeds the maximum driving current, said interface receives a driving current that is smaller than the requested current for carrying out only some of the plurality of functions.

4. An electronic device for performing a function, comprising:

a register having a region for storing a current consumption value indicating a current that is to be drawn by said electronic device from a main unit during execution of the function; and

an interface configured for electrical connection to the main unit for outputting the current consumption value from said register for delivery to the main unit and for receiving a driving current based on the current consumption value from the main unit when the current consumption value does not exceed a maximum driving current for the main unit, said interface including a plurality of contacts for establishing the electrical connection with the main unit, one of said plurality of contacts being used only when the function is executed, said one contact being maintained at a high impedance until the function is enabled.

5. An electronic device for performing a function, comprising:

a memory for storing a version number;

an interface configured for electrical connection to a main unit for outputting the version number from said memory for delivery to the main unit when said electronic device is connected to the main unit and for receiving a current consumption value from the main unit, the current consumption value being based on the version number and indicating a current that is to be drawn by said electronic device from the main unit during execution of the function; and

a register having a region for storing the current consumption value;

said interface outputting the current consumption value from said register for delivery to the main unit and receiving a driving current from the main unit based on the current consumption value when the current consumption value does not exceed a maximum driving current for the main unit.

6. A unit configured for connection to an electronic device, comprising:

a first reader for reading a current consumption value from a register in the electronic device, the current consumption value indicating a current that is to be drawn by the electronic device from a supply unit of said unit during execution of a function of the electronic device;

a writing unit for writing permission information in a register of the electronic device, the permission information indicating whether a driving current is allowed to be supplied to the electronic device based on whether the current consumption value does not exceed a maximum driving current; and

a second reader for reading enablement information from the register of the electronic device, the enablement information indicating whether the function is enabled or disabled;

said supply unit supplying the driving current to the electronic device based on the current consumption value when the enablement information indicates that the function is enabled.

7. A unit according to claim 6, wherein the current consumption value read by said first reader indicates the current that is to be drawn by the electronic device from said supply unit during execution of a plurality of functions, and when the current consumption value exceeds the maximum driving current, said supply unit supplies the electronic device with a driving current that is smaller than the requested current for carrying out only some of the plurality of functions.

8. A unit configured for connection to an electronic device, comprising:

a writing unit for writing a current consumption value in a register of the electronic device based on a version number received from the electronic device when the electronic device is connected, the current consumption value indicating a driving current that is to be drawn by the electronic device from a supply unit of said writing unit during execution of a function of the electronic device; and

a first reader for reading the current consumption value from the register in the electronic device;

said supply unit supplying the driving current to the electronic device based on the current consumption value when the current consumption value does not exceed a maximum driving current.

9. A system, comprising:

a main unit; and

an electronic device for performing function, including;

a register having a region for storing a current consumption value indicating a current that is to be drawn by said electronic device from said main unit during execution of the function, and

an interface configured for connection to said main unit for outputting the current consumption value from said register for delivery to said main unit;

said main unit including;

a first reader for reading the current consumption value from said register, and

a writing unit for writing permission information in said register of said electronic device, the permission information indicating whether a driving current is allowed to be supplied to said electronic device based on whether the current consumption value does not exceed a maximum driving current;

said register of said electronic device including a further region for storing the permission information and a still further region for storing enablement information indicative of whether the function is enabled or disabled, the enablement information being set by said electronic device based on the permission information;

said main unit including a second reader for reading the enablement information from said still further region of said register, and

a supply unit for supplying the driving current to said electronic device based on the current consumption value when the enablement information indicates that the function is enabled.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the current consumption value read by said register of said electronic device indicates the current that is to be drawn by said electronic device from said main unit during execution of a plurality of functions, and when the current consumption value exceeds the maximum driving current, said supply unit of said main unit supplies said electronic device with a driving current that is smaller than the requested current for carrying out only some of the plurality of functions.

11. A system comprising:

a main unit; and

an electronic device for performing a function, said electronic device including;

a memory for storing a version number, and

an interface configured for connection to said main unit for outputting the version number from said memory for delivery to said main unit when said electronic device is connected to said main unit;

said main unit including;

a writing unit for writing a current consumption value in a region of a register of said electronic device based on the version number, the current consumption value indicating a current that is to be drawn by said electronic device from said main unit during execution of the function;

a first reader for reading the current consumption value from said register, and

a supply unit for supplying a driving current to said electronic device based on the current consumption value when the current consumption value does not exceed a maximum driving current for said main unit.