JPH0566857A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize the information processor with a high function constituted so that it can be driven by a commercial power source and a battery built in the processor main body as well. CONSTITUTION:In the processor main body 15, a battery pack housing part 18 in which a battery pack 8 of a power source is mounted and housed detachably is provided, and at the part facing the battery pack housing part 18 in the device body 15, a connector 9 for connecting a circuit for extending a function of the device or a unit of an apparatus to a circuit of the device main body 15 attachably and detachably is provided. In the case a commercial power source can be used through an AC adaptor connected to a connector 4, the battery pack 8 is detached and an extension unit is connected to the connector 9 to be used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus which can be driven by a commercial power source and has a battery built in the apparatus body and can be driven by the battery as a power source. ..

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional information processing devices such as word processors and personal computers, which are portable, such as laptop type and notebook type, can be driven by a commercial power source via an AC adapter or a charger. A configuration in which a battery is built in the apparatus body and can be driven by using the battery as a power source is widely adopted. In such a device, downsizing has been promoted due to downsizing of used parts, high packing density, and limitation of specifications, and portability has been improved.

[0003]

However, there are the following problems in downsizing the information processing apparatus as described above.

(1) As a specification for downsizing, for example, there is a method of deleting an expansion slot in which an expansion unit for expanding the function of the apparatus is installed. Then, the expansion unit can expand the function of the apparatus. Therefore, high functionality cannot be achieved. In addition, without storing the expansion unit in the device,
If you just connect, you can provide a connector for the expansion unit facing the outer surface of the housing of the device, but this type of device is provided with a keyboard and display that occupy a large area facing the outer surface of the housing, In addition, various connectors, switches, disk insertion ports, light emitting diodes, nameplates, etc. are provided, so there is not enough space for the expansion unit connector, and if the expansion unit connector is provided at the expense of others, the operability will deteriorate. Causes the problem of.

(2) In this type of device, a battery of a power source built into the device body is a secondary battery, and a type in which the user cannot replace the secondary battery without removing it from the device body, and a secondary battery There is a type that is removable and replaceable. At least the former type is designed so that the internal secondary battery can be charged from the outside of the device by a commercial power source via a charger.

However, in the former type, if the device is used in a place where it cannot be charged and the battery runs out, the device cannot be used. As a countermeasure against this, 2
If a battery housing for detachably mounting the primary battery separately from the secondary battery is provided in the main body of the device, the size of the device becomes large.
Further, even if the secondary battery is large and has a large capacity or the number of secondary batteries is increased, the device becomes large.

In the latter type, the primary battery cannot be used in place of the secondary battery when the battery runs out unless the specifications of the external shape of the secondary battery are the same as those of the primary battery. On the other hand, if the secondary battery is replaceable with the primary battery with the same specifications as described above, there is a risk that the secondary battery is erroneously charged with the primary battery attached.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to provide a structure capable of achieving both miniaturization and high functionality of an information processing apparatus.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first configuration of the present invention, it can be driven by a commercial power source, and a battery is built in the main body of the apparatus and driven by the battery as a power source. In the information processing device configured as possible,
A battery storage unit for detachably mounting and storing the battery is provided in the apparatus main body, and a circuit or device unit for expanding the function of the apparatus is provided in a portion of the apparatus main body facing the battery storage unit. A connector is provided for detachably connecting to the circuit.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus which is constructed such that a secondary battery is built in the apparatus body and can be driven by using the secondary battery as a power source, the information processing apparatus is provided outside the housing of the apparatus body. A connecting member for detachably connecting the battery to the power supply line of the circuit of the apparatus main body is provided on the side surface, and the battery can be driven by using the battery as a power source by connecting the battery to the connecting member.

[0011]

According to the above-mentioned first structure, when the commercial power source can be used, the battery can be removed from the battery housing portion of the apparatus main body, and the expansion unit can be connected through the connector for use.

According to the second structure, when the capacity of the secondary battery built in the apparatus body is used up, the apparatus is connected to the connecting member provided on the outer surface of the housing of the apparatus body. Can be driven and used.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Three examples are illustrated here. In the drawings of each embodiment, common parts are denoted by common reference numerals, and duplicate description of common parts will be omitted.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows the outer appearance of an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This information processing device is a portable type,
A display 17 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 15 on which a keyboard 16 is provided so that the display 17 can be opened and closed (rotatably),
The display 17 can be closed to carry the entire device.

Further, this device can be driven by a commercial power source via an AC adapter (not shown) and also by a battery. For this reason, a battery pack housing 18 for removably mounting, connecting, and housing the battery pack 8 accommodating a battery in a housing provided with electrodes for connection as a battery power source is provided at the rear part of the apparatus body 15. ..

An FDD is provided on the front side of the apparatus body 15.
A (floppy disk device) 10 (see FIG. 2) is provided, and a disk insertion slot 1 for inserting a disk therein
9 is provided in the housing of the apparatus main body 15.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the connectors on the printed circuit board in the apparatus main body 15.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a printed circuit board on which most of the circuits of the information processing apparatus are mounted. In the printed circuit board 1, the portion of the battery pack housing portion 18 and the portion where the FDD 10 is arranged are cut out.
Further, a portion of the card storage portion 20 in which an IC card (not shown) is detachably mounted, connected and stored is also cut out.

At the rear side edge of the printed circuit board 1, a power switch 2, an IC card connector 3, an AC adapter connector 4, a printer connector 5, a serial communication connector 6, and a data input DIP switch. 7 has been implemented.

Further, a circuit or equipment unit (hereinafter referred to as an "extension unit") for extending the function of the information processing apparatus is provided in the main body 15 of the rear side edge of the printed circuit board 1 facing the battery pack storage section 18. A connector 9 for detachably connecting to the circuit is mounted.

According to this structure, the battery pack 8 can be mounted in the battery pack housing 18 to supply power as shown in FIG. 2, and the AC adapter 14 can be connected to the connector 4 as shown in FIG. And AC adapter for commercial power supply AC
It is also possible to convert the power into direct current at 4 and supply power.

When power can be supplied from a commercial power source via the AC adapter 14, the battery pack 8 is stored in the storage unit 1.
It is possible to extend the function of the device by detaching it from 8, and connecting the extension unit 11 to the connector 9 and storing it in the storage portion 18.

The expansion unit 11 has a size that can be accommodated in the accommodating portion 18, and is a modem unit for performing data communication through a line such as a telephone line. In this case, the unit 11 is provided with a connector 12a for connecting to the connector 9 and a connector 12b for connecting the cable 13 for line connection.

The use of the modem unit is limited to locations such as the operator's office, and if it is not used on the go, power is available at locations where commercial power can be used even if the battery pack 8 is removed to use the modem unit. No worries about Further, when the information processing apparatus is taken out of the base, since the modem unit is not used at the place of departure, there is no problem even if the modem unit is removed and the battery pack 8 is attached.

According to the present embodiment as described above, the expansion unit 11 can be mounted and connected to the battery pack housing portion 18, so that a dedicated space for providing the expansion unit 11, that is, an expansion slot can be provided. Separately, it is not necessary to provide the main body 15 of the apparatus, the function of the apparatus can be expanded by the expansion unit as well as the size of the apparatus can be enhanced, and the function of the apparatus can be enhanced.

Second Embodiment By the way, in the structure of the first embodiment, the expansion unit 11 is of a size that can be stored in the battery pack storage portion 18, but as a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. The expansion unit 11 may be too large to be stored in the storage section 18. In this case, as shown in the figure, the connector 12 of the expansion unit 11 is connected to the main body of the unit 11 by a cable 21 separately from the main body of the expansion unit 11, and is inserted into the battery pack storage portion 18 to connect the connector. It may be of a size that can be connected to 9. In this way, the expansion unit 11 can be connected to the apparatus main body 15, and the apparatus can be made smaller and have higher functions as in the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment FIG. 5 shows the circuit configuration relating to the power supply of the information processing apparatus of the third embodiment.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, the secondary battery 25 is built in the apparatus body 15 as an internal power source. Secondary battery 25
It is designed so that a general user cannot remove it from the main body 15 of the device, and is charged from outside the device. For this purpose, a charging circuit 23 for charging the secondary battery 25 by supplying power from a commercial power source is provided.

The output voltage of the secondary battery is converted to a predetermined voltage required by the DC-DC converter 24 and supplied to the circuit 22 other than the power source of the apparatus. Reference numerals D1 to D3 denote backflow prevention diodes.

On the other hand, as a point different from the conventional one, the apparatus main body 1
Connection terminals 26a and 26b for detachably connecting the primary battery 27 as an external power source are provided on the outer surface of the housing of No. 5, and the terminal 26a is connected to the DC- It is connected to the input power supply line of the DC converter 24, and the terminal 26b is connected to the ground line of the power supply line.

The primary battery 27 is, for example, 0 as shown in FIG.
It is a 06P type dry battery. Accordingly, the connection terminal 26
a and 26b have shapes complementary to the positive and negative electrodes 27a and 27b of the primary battery 27, respectively.
The battery 27 can be detachably connected by detachably fitting the a and 27b. The connection terminals 26a, 2
6b is provided on the rear side of the outer side surface of the casing of the apparatus main body 15 so as not to disturb the operation with the primary battery 27 connected, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), for example. I shall.

According to this structure, when the secondary battery 25 is used up in a place where the commercial battery cannot be used and the secondary battery 25 cannot be charged, By connecting the primary battery 27 of the external power source to the connection terminals 26a and 26b, the power of the battery 27 is DC-.
Circuit 22 other than the power source of the device via the DC converter 24
Can be used to drive and use the device.

Therefore, as a measure against the battery exhaustion of the secondary battery 25, a storage portion for the primary battery is separately provided in the apparatus main body 15,
It is not necessary to increase the number or the number of secondary batteries having a large capacity, and it is possible to deal with the battery exhaustion of the secondary battery without impairing the miniaturization of the device and to enhance the function of the device.

In the above structure, instead of providing the connection terminals 26a and 26b on the outer side surface of the apparatus body 15, the portion indicated by reference numeral 28 in FIGS. 7A and 7B, that is, the apparatus body 15 is shown. A connection terminal for a primary battery of AA or AA type is provided on the side surface of the bearings 15a that rotatably support the display 17, and the primary and secondary batteries of AA or AA type are provided between the terminals. It is also possible to connect a plurality of batteries in series. In this case, it goes without saying that a secondary battery having the same outer shape specifications can be used instead of the primary battery.

Further, since the connection terminals 26a and 26b are not normally used, it is conceivable to provide a cover for covering both terminals so as to be attachable / detachable or openable / closable in order to prevent the terminals from being soiled and to be beautiful.

[0036]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first configuration of the present invention, it can be driven by a commercial power source, and a battery is built in the main body of the apparatus so that the battery can be driven by the power source. In the information processing apparatus described above, a battery accommodating portion for removably mounting and accommodating the battery is provided in the apparatus main body, and a circuit for expanding the function of the apparatus in a portion facing the battery accommodating portion in the apparatus main body. Since a connector for detachably connecting the device unit to the circuit of the device body is provided, if commercial power is available, remove the battery from the battery compartment of the device body and connect the expansion unit. The device can be miniaturized and the function of the device can be expanded by the expansion unit, and the function of the device can be enhanced.

According to the second configuration of the present invention, in an information processing device configured to have a secondary battery built in the device body and capable of being driven by the secondary battery as a power source, the information processing device is provided outside the housing of the device body. Since a connecting member for detachably connecting the battery to the power supply line of the circuit of the apparatus main body is provided on the side surface and the battery can be driven by using the battery as a power source by connecting the battery to the connecting member, it is built in. When the capacity of the secondary battery is used up, the device can be driven by connecting the battery to the connecting member on the outer surface of the housing, and the battery exhaustion of the secondary battery can be dealt with without impairing the miniaturization of the device. An excellent effect that the device can be highly functionalized is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an arrangement of connectors in a main body of the device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the battery pack of the device is removed and an extension unit is connected.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration related to a power supply of a device according to a third embodiment.

6 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the primary battery of the external power supply shown in FIG.

7A and 7B are a front view and a side view showing an appearance of an apparatus according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printed Circuit Board 4 Connector for AC Adapter 8 Battery Pack 9 Connector for Expansion Unit 11 Expansion Unit 12, 12a, 12b Connector for Expansion Unit 14 AC Adapter 15 Device Main Body 16 Keyboard 17 Display 18 Battery Pack Storage 23 Charging Circuit 25 Internal Power Supply Secondary battery 26a, 26b Connection terminal 27 Primary battery of external power supply

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location 7927-5B G06F 1/00 320 E 7927-5B 320 D 7832-5B 331 A

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A power source that can be driven by a commercial power source,
In an information processing device configured so that a battery is built in a device body and can be driven by using the battery as a power source, a battery storage unit for detachably mounting and storing the battery is provided in the device body, and the battery is provided in the device body. An information processing apparatus, wherein a connector for detachably connecting a circuit or a unit of a device for expanding the function of the apparatus to a circuit of the apparatus main body is provided at a portion facing the storage section. 2. An information processing apparatus, wherein a secondary battery is built in the apparatus body and can be driven by using the secondary battery as a power source, wherein a battery is provided on an outer surface of a housing of the apparatus body. An information processing apparatus, wherein a connection member for detachably connecting to the power supply line is provided, and a battery is connected to the connection member so that the battery can be driven by the power supply.