System with electronic device and extension device

• US 9,939,849 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirosawa, Hideki, Horie, Yutaka, Kanou, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUKHARI, AQEEL H
• Application Number:
  US14/820,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20160126757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a system includes an electronic device and an extension device. The electronic device includes a first connector to which a first AC adapter is connected, a first control IC including a first power supply controller, and a first charger IC to charge a first battery with power from the first AC adapter in response to an instruction from the first power supply controller. The extension device includes a second connector to which a second AC adapter is connected, a second control IC including a second power supply controller, and a second charger IC to charge a second battery with power from the second AC adapter in response to an instruction from the second power supply controller.

Claims

1. A system comprising an electronic device and an extension device to which the electronic device is detachable from and attachable,

wherein the electronic device comprises:

a first battery;

a first connector to which a first alternating current (AC) adapter is connected;

a first control integrated circuit (IC) comprising a first power supply controller; and

a first charger IC configured to charge the first battery with power selectively supplied from either the first AC adapter or the extension device in response to an instruction from the first power supply controller, and

the extension device comprises;

a second battery;

a second connector to which a second AC adapter is connected;

a second control IC comprising a second power supply controller; and

a second charger IC configured to charge the second battery with power selectively supplied from either the second AC adapter or the electronic device in response to an instruction from the second power supply controller,

wherein the extension device is configured such that when the extension device is mounted on the electronic device and the first AC adapter is connected to the first connector, the first power supply controller notifies the second power supply controller of supplying the extension device with power supplied from the first AC adapter,

wherein the extension device is configured such that when the extension device is mounted on the electronic device and the first AC adapter is not connected to the first connecter, the first power supply controller inquires of the second power supply controller whether the second AC adapter is connected to the second connector, and requests, responsive to receiving a response which indicates that the second AC adapter is connected to the second connector, the second power supply controller to supply the electronic device with power supplied from the second AC adapter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the first power supply controller is configured to determine whether a remaining capacity of the first battery is less than a first value responsive to receiving a response which indicates that the second AC adapter is not connected to the second connector, inquire of the second power supply controller about a remaining capacity of the second battery when the remaining capacity of the first battery is less than the first value, and request the second power supply controller to supply the electronic device with power supplied from the second AC adapter when the remaining capacity of the second battery obtained from the second power supply controller is greater than a second value.

3. The system of claim 2,

wherein the second power supply controller is configured to supply the electronic device with power from the second battery with its voltage stepped up or stepped down in response to a request from the first power supply controller.

4. The system of claim 2,

wherein the first power supply controller is configured to inquire of the second power supply controller about the remaining capacity of the second battery when the remaining capacity of the first battery is greater than the first value, and to notify the second power supply controller of supplying the extension device with power supplied from the first battery when the remaining capacity of the first battery is greater than the remaining capacity of the second battery obtained from

the second power supply controller.

5. The system of claim 4,

wherein the first power supply controller is configured to request the second power supply controller to supply the electronic device with power supplied from the second battery when the remaining capacity of the first battery is less than the remaining capacity of the second battery obtained from the second power supply controller.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second power supply controller is configured to supply the electronic device with power of the second battery with its voltage stepped up or stepped down in response to a request from the first power supply controller.