Auxiliary power supply unit and portable electronic system

• US 6,977,688 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanada, Yuji, Kakiuchi, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, JACQUELINE B
• Application Number:
  US10/020,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 348/372, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules

Abstract

An auxiliary power supply unit which is mountable to a portable electronic device having a battery, includes at least one capacitor, and an I/F connector which is connectable to an I/F connector of the portable electronic device, the I/F connector of the portable electronic device including power terminals connected to the battery. The I/F connector of the auxiliary power supply unit includes power terminals connected to the at least one capacitor, wherein the at least one capacitor is connected in parallel to the battery when the auxiliary power supply unit is mounted to the portable electronic device via the power terminals of the I/F connectors.

Claims

1. An auxiliary power supply unit which is mountable to a portable electronic device having a battery, comprising:

at least one capacitor; and

an I/F connector which is connectable to an I/F connector of said portable electronic device, said I/F connector comprising power terminals connected to said battery;

wherein said I/F connector of the auxiliary power supply unit includes power terminals connected to said at least one capacitor;

wherein said at least one capacitor is connected in parallel to said battery when said auxiliary power supply unit is mounted to said portable electronic device via said power terminals of said I/F connectors; and

wherein, when said at least one capacitor is connected to said battery in parallel, said at least one capacitor discharges to supply power to said portable electronic device when said portable electronic device is in operation, while said battery supplies power to said at least one capacitor to charge said at least one capacitor.

2. The auxiliary power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one capacitor is connected in parallel to said battery so as to reduce an internal resistance of said battery when said auxiliary power supply unit is mounted to said portable electronic device via said power terminals of said I/F connectors.

3. The auxiliary power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one capacitor comprises at least one large-capacity capacitor.

4. The auxiliary power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein said portable electronic device is a digital camera.

5. The auxiliary power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power supply unit is attached to the portable electronic device at a position so as not to hinder operability of the portable electronic device.

6. The auxiliary power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power supply unit is attached to a bottom surface of the portable electronic device.

7. A portable electronic system, comprising:

a portable electronic device including a battery and a first I/F connector having terminals connected to a battery; and

at least one accessory which is mountable to said portable electronic device and includes a second I/F connector, said at least one accessory being mounted to said portable electronic device via said first and second I/F connectors;

wherein one of said at least one accessory includes an auxiliary power supply unit having at least one capacitor, said second I/F connector including terminals connected to said at least one capacitor;

wherein said at least one capacitor is connected in parallel to said battery when said auxiliary power supply unit is mounted to said portable electronic device via said first I/F connector and said second I/F connector; and

wherein, when said at least one capacitor is connected to said battery in parallel, said at least one capacitor discharges to supply power to said portable electronic device when said portable electronic device is in operation, while said battery supplies power to said at least one capacitor to charge said at least one capacitor.

8. The portable electronic system according to claim 7, wherein said at least one capacitor is connected in parallel to said battery so as to reduce an internal resistance of said battery when said auxiliary power supply unit is mounted to said portable electronic device via said first and second I/F connectors.

9. The portable electronic system according to claim 7, wherein said second I/F connector of said one at least one accessory and a second I/F connector of another said at least one accessory are constructed substantially the same so as to both correspond to said first I/F connector.

10. The portable electronic system according to claim 9, wherein said first I/F connector comprises control terminals used for communication between said portable electronic device and said at least one accessory.

11. The portable electronic system according to claim 7, wherein said portable electronic device is a digital camera.

13. The digital camera according to claim 10, wherein one of said at least one accessory comprises a printer unit.

14. The portable electronic system of claim 7, wherein said at least one capacitor comprises at least one large-capacity capacitor.

12. A digital camera system, comprising:

a camera body comprising a battery and a first I/F connector having power terminals connected to said battery; and

at least one accessory which is mountable to said camera body and includes a second I/F connector, said at least one accessory being mounted to said camera body via said first and second I/F connectors;

wherein one of said at least one accessory includes an auxiliary power supply unit having at least one capacitor, said second I/F connector including power terminals connected to said at least one capacitor;

wherein said at least one capacitor is connected in parallel to said battery when said auxiliary power supply unit is mounted to said digital camera via said first and second I/F connectors; and

wherein, when said at least one capacitor is connected to said battery in parallel, said at least one capacitor discharges to supply power to said portable electronic device when said portable electronic device is in operation, while said battery supplies power to said at least one capacitor to charge said at least one capacitor.

15. The digital camera system of claim 12, wherein said at least one capacitor comprises at least one large-capacity capacitor.