JP2007264915A - Adapter and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve portability including an adapter of electronic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: This AC adapter 10 can be installed to an extension bay 5 of a portable information processor 1. The AC adapter 10 is installed to the extension bay 5 of the portable information processor 1, and DC power is supplied to a standard mounted secondary battery 3 or a data processing part 2 of the portable information processor 1. Because the AC adapter 10 can be installed to the extension bay 5, the portability including the AC adapter 10 of the portable information processor 1 can be improved when carrying the AC adapter 10 together therewith. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an adapter and an electronic device, and more particularly, to an adapter used in an electronic device such as a portable information processing apparatus, and an electronic device using such an adapter.

  2. Description of the Related Art Up until now, portable information processing apparatuses such as notebook personal computers (notebook personal computers) have been improved for reduction in size and weight. In addition, the performance of the built-in battery has been improved so that it can be used for a long period of time, speeding up and multifunctional functions.

By the way, in a notebook personal computer, devices (expansion units) such as a CD / DVD drive, a hard disk drive (HDD), and a spare battery are prepared in a predetermined form in order to increase the functionality. Then, by attaching such an expansion unit to, for example, a predetermined expansion device externally attached to the notebook computer, the function of the attached expansion unit can be added to the notebook computer (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In addition, there is a type in which such a function can be added to the notebook personal computer by mounting such an expansion unit in an expansion bay of the notebook personal computer (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2001-125688 A JP 2000-214953 A JP 2001-125680 A

  The power supply for carrying a laptop computer is mainly a built-in battery or a spare battery. Although the operating time has become longer due to recent improvements in battery performance, the AC power supply that comes with the laptop computer is still used when carrying the laptop computer. Adapters are often carried around. However, the AC adapter is usually composed of a plug, a cable, and a main body, and is not suitable for carrying with a notebook computer because of its poor storage property mainly due to its shape and size.

  Here, a notebook personal computer has been described as an example, but such a problem when the adapter is carried can similarly occur in other electronic devices such as other portable information processing apparatuses that can supply power via the adapter.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object thereof is to provide an adapter excellent in portability with an electronic device.
Moreover, an object of this invention is to provide the electronic device excellent in the portability including an adapter.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an adapter for supplying power to an electronic device from the outside, the adapter being attachable to an expansion bay included in the electronic device.

  According to such an adapter, since the adapter can be mounted in the expansion bay of the electronic device, for example, by mounting the adapter in the expansion bay, the portability of the adapter can be improved when the adapter is carried with the electronic device. Be able to. At the same time, the portability of the electronic device when the adapter is carried together can be improved.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus having an expansion bay, wherein an adapter that can be attached to the expansion bay is connected and power is supplied from the outside.
According to such an electronic device, the adapter can be mounted in the expansion bay. For example, when the adapter is mounted in the expansion bay, power is supplied to the electronic device from the outside. If the adapter is mounted in the expansion bay, the portability of the electronic device including the adapter in the case where the adapter is carried together can be improved.

  In the present invention, an adapter for supplying power to an electronic device from the outside can be attached to an expansion bay provided in the electronic device. This makes it possible to improve the portability of the adapter and improve the portability of the adapter including the adapter of the electronic device when the adapter is carried together.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, taking a portable information processing apparatus as an example.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portable information processing apparatus.

  A portable information processing device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a notebook personal computer, a data processing unit 2 that processes various data, and a standard-equipped secondary battery that can be used as an operation power source of the portable information processing device 1 (standard And an external DC power input terminal 4 to which an AC adapter can be connected. Furthermore, this portable information processing apparatus 1 has an expansion bay 5 into which various expansion units can be inserted.

The data processing unit 2 can be configured as follows, for example. FIG. 2 is a configuration example of the data processing unit.
The data processing unit 2 includes, for example, a CPU 2a, ROM 2b, RAM 2c, built-in HDD 2d, audio processing unit 2e, video processing unit 2f, input / output interface 2g, communication interface 2h, and the like, which are connected via a bus 2i.

  The CPU 2a executes processing according to programs and data stored in the built-in HDD 2d and the like. The ROM 2b stores basic programs and data executed by the CPU 2a. The RAM 2c stores programs and data being executed by the CPU 2a. The internal HDD 2d stores an OS, application programs, and various data executed by the CPU 2a. The audio processing unit 2e outputs sound to a speaker or the like in accordance with a reproduction command from the CPU 2a. The video processing unit 2f displays an image on a screen such as a display in accordance with a drawing command from the CPU 2a. A mouse or the like is connected to the input / output interface 2g. The input information is received by these and transferred to the CPU 2a via the bus 2i. The communication interface 2h is an interface for LAN or Internet connection.

The standard on-board secondary battery 3 of the portable information processing apparatus 1 supplies DC power to the data processing unit 2 and can operate the portable information processing apparatus 1.
For example, a lithium ion battery can be used as the standard-equipped secondary battery 3. Here, the capacity memory effect is suppressed, and an electronic circuit for preventing overcharging and overdischarging is incorporated in the single battery. Use the battery pack. When a standard on-board secondary battery 3 incorporating such an electronic circuit is used, it is necessary to incorporate a circuit for controlling charging / discharging on the main body side of the portable information processing device 1 (the part excluding the standard on-board secondary battery 3). It is sufficient if the standard on-board secondary battery 3 is connected to an external DC power source. If DC power is supplied to such a standard mounted secondary battery 3 from, for example, an AC adapter, charging to the standard mounted secondary battery 3 or a portable type from the standard mounted secondary battery 3 according to the remaining battery level. DC power is supplied to the main body of the information processing apparatus 1.

  The expansion bay 5 of the portable information processing apparatus 1 is configured so that various expansion units can be attached and detached. The portable information processing apparatus 1 can be attached to and detached from the expansion bay 5 during its operation. The circuit configuration is such that can be performed.

  The expansion bay 5 includes a CD / DVD drive, an expansion HDD, a spare battery (extended secondary battery), a flexible disk drive (FDD), a reader / writer for a recording medium such as a USB memory or a compact flash (CF) (registered trademark), etc. The various expansion units can be removed. Further, here, an AC adapter is added to one of such expansion units that can be attached to and detached from the expansion bay 5. Details of such an AC adapter will be described later.

  When the extension unit is inserted into the extension bay 5, the portable information processing apparatus 1 connects a later-described general-purpose connection terminal provided in the extension unit to a general-purpose connection terminal 5 a provided in the extension bay 5. By doing so, the portable information processing device 1 and its extension unit are connected. When the portable information processing device 1 and the expansion unit are connected, the operation power is supplied to the expansion unit (excluding the expansion secondary battery and the AC adapter) installed in the expansion bay 5, and the expansion unit (expansion secondary) (Excluding batteries and AC adapters)) Data transfer between the data processing unit 2 and audio signals, video signals, etc., standard secondary battery 3 when an expansion secondary battery or AC adapter is installed in the expansion bay 5 DC power can be supplied to the data processing unit 2 and the like.

  The external DC power input terminal 4 of the portable information processing apparatus 1 is connected to a general-purpose connection terminal 5 a provided in the expansion bay 5 inside the portable information processing apparatus 1. The external DC power input terminal 4 is connected to the standard on-board secondary battery 3 so that the DC power can be supplied from there to the data processing unit 2 and the like. At that time, when the remaining amount of the standard mounted secondary battery 3 is small, the standard mounted secondary battery 3 is charged. Further, since the external DC power input terminal 4 is connected to the general-purpose connection terminal 5a of the expansion bay 5, when an expansion secondary battery is installed in the expansion bay 5, the external secondary battery power input terminal 4 is connected to the expansion secondary battery from the outside. It can also be charged.

Next, an AC adapter that can be attached to and detached from the expansion bay 5 of the portable information processing apparatus 1 as described above will be described.
3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a configuration example of the AC adapter, in which FIG. 3A is a schematic plan view, FIG. 3B is a schematic front view, and FIG. 3C is a schematic side view. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a general-purpose connection terminal.

  The AC adapter 10 shown in FIG. 3 is detachable from the extension bay 5 of the portable information processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 in the same manner as other extension units such as a CD / DVD drive, extension HDD, and extension secondary battery. With various shapes and dimensions.

  The AC adapter 10 is inserted into the expansion bay 5 as described above, and the AC input terminal 12 to which an AC cable 11 (shown only in FIG. 3A) for drawing commercial AC power is connected. Sometimes it has a general-purpose connection terminal 13 connected to the general-purpose connection terminal 5a. In addition to the AC adapter 10, the general-purpose connection terminal 13 is commonly used for other expansion units, that is, expansion units such as a CD / DVD drive, an expansion HDD, and an expansion secondary battery.

  Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the general-purpose connection terminal 13 supplies operation power to the expansion unit (excluding the expansion secondary battery and the AC adapter 10) mounted in the expansion bay 5, and the expansion unit ( 2) and a terminal 13a having two functions of data transfer between the data processing unit 2 and the extended secondary battery and the AC adapter 10). Such a terminal 13a can be realized by, for example, 12V power supply and an ATAPI standard interface. Further, in addition to such a terminal 13a, the general-purpose connecting terminal 13 has a terminal 13b for DC power input / output when the expansion unit is an expansion secondary battery or an AC adapter 10.

  On the other hand, the general-purpose connection terminal 5a of the expansion bay 5 has a connection relationship between the general-purpose connection terminal 13 and the male / female of such an expansion unit, and an operating power supply to the expansion unit as described above is provided in a portion corresponding to the terminal 13a. It has a terminal for supplying and transferring data to and from the expansion unit, and has a terminal for DC power input / output as described above at a portion corresponding to the terminal 13b.

  As described above, the AC adapter 10 has a shape and size that can be attached to and detached from the expansion bay 5 and has a general-purpose connection terminal 13 that is common to other expansion units. Like the expansion unit, it can be mounted in the expansion bay 5.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the attachment / detachment of the extension unit to / from the extension bay.
Each extension unit including the AC adapter 10 having the general-purpose connection terminal 13 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is inserted into the extension bay 5 of the portable information processing apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. The connection terminal 13 is connected to the general-purpose connection terminal 5a on the expansion bay 5 side. As a result, in addition to supplying operating power to the attached expansion unit and transferring data to and from the expansion unit, a DC power output from the expansion bay 5 or a DC power input to the expansion bay 5 is possible.

  For example, when the expansion unit installed in the expansion bay 5 is a CD / DVD drive 20, an expansion HDD 21, or the like, only the terminal 13a shown in FIG. 4 and the corresponding terminal portion on the expansion bay 5 side are used. Through this, operation power is supplied to the CD / DVD drive 20 and the like, and data transfer between the data processing unit 2 and the CD / DVD drive 20 is performed. When the expansion unit mounted in the expansion bay 5 is the expansion secondary battery 30 or the AC adapter 10, only the terminal 13b shown in FIG. 4 and the corresponding terminal portion on the expansion bay 5 side are used. Through this, a DC power output from the extended secondary battery 30 and the AC adapter 10 and a DC power input (charging) to the extended secondary battery 30 are performed.

  When the AC adapter 10 can be mounted in the expansion bay 5 as described above, the type of the portable information processing device 1 and the arrangement of the expansion bay 5 in the portable information processing device 1 are taken into consideration. If necessary, an electromagnetic shield or a heat dissipation mechanism may be provided on the AC adapter 10 side or the portable information processing device 1 side.

Below, the structural example of the portable information processing apparatus 1 using the said AC adapter 10 is demonstrated concretely.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example when an AC adapter is mounted in the expansion bay.

  The AC adapter 10 inserted in the expansion bay 5 of the portable information processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 6 has the general-purpose connection terminal 13 connected to the general-purpose connection terminal 5a on the expansion bay 5 side. An AC cable 11 is connected to the AC input terminal 12 of the AC adapter 10, and AC power is supplied through the AC cable 11. The AC adapter 10 uses the terminal 13b shown in FIG. 4 and the corresponding terminal portion on the expansion bay 5 side to supply DC power to the standard mounted secondary battery 3, the data processing unit 2, and the like. The AC adapter 10 supplies DC power to the data processing unit 2 and the like via the standard on-board secondary battery 3 to execute predetermined data processing, and if the standard on-board secondary battery 3 has little remaining power, To charge.

  The AC cable 11 is removed when carrying the portable information processing apparatus 1 with the AC adapter 10 mounted in the expansion bay 5, and one end side is connected to the AC input terminal 12 and the other end side is moved to the destination. Each may be connected to a commercial AC power source. Of course, the portable information processing apparatus 1 may be carried while one end of the AC cable 11 is connected to the AC input terminal 12.

  As shown in FIG. 6, by mounting the AC adapter 10 in the expansion bay 5, the portability of the AC adapter 10 itself can be improved, and a portable information processing apparatus including the AC adapter 10 is provided. The overall portability of 1 can be improved.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example when a CD / DVD drive is installed in the expansion bay.
A CD / DVD drive 20 having the general-purpose connection terminal 13 as described above is mounted in the expansion bay 5 of the portable information processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. In the expansion bay 5, the universal connection terminals 5 a and 13 on the expansion bay 5 side and the CD / DVD drive 20 side are connected to each other, and the portable information processing apparatus 1 supplies the operating power to the CD / DVD drive 20 and the CD / Data transfer between the DVD drive 20 and the data processing unit 2 is possible.

  In order to supply DC power from the outside to the portable information processing apparatus 1 having such a configuration, the AC adapter 10 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is used here. In that case, as shown in FIG. 7, the general-purpose connection terminal 13 of the AC adapter 10 and the external DC power input terminal 4 of the portable information processing apparatus 1 are connected by a dedicated connection cable 14.

  The connection terminal 14a of the dedicated connection cable 14 connected to the general-purpose connection terminal 13 side of the AC adapter 10 may have the same configuration as the general-purpose connection terminal 5a provided in the expansion bay 5, or at least shown in FIG. A terminal corresponding to the DC power input / output terminal 13b is provided.

  Further, the connection terminal 14b of the dedicated connection cable 14 connected to the external DC power input terminal 4 side of the portable information processing apparatus 1 may be configured as shown in FIG. 8A and 8B are external views of the connection terminals, where FIG. 8A is a schematic side view and FIG. 8B is a schematic front view. The connection terminal 14b can be a general plug-in terminal as shown in FIG.

  DC power is supplied to the portable information processing apparatus 1 by connecting the general-purpose connection terminal 13 of the AC adapter 10 and the external DC power input terminal 4 with the dedicated connection cable 14. The external DC power input terminal 4 is connected to a general-purpose connection terminal 5 a provided in the expansion bay 5 inside the portable information processing apparatus 1. Therefore, even when the AC adapter 10 is externally connected, as in the case where the AC adapter 10 is installed in the expansion bay 5, supply of DC power to the data processing unit 2 or the like via the standard mounted secondary battery 3 or the standard mounted secondary The battery 3 is charged.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example when an expansion secondary battery is mounted in the expansion bay.
In the extension bay 5 of the portable information processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 9, the extension secondary battery 30 including the general-purpose connection terminal 13 as described above is mounted. In the expansion bay 5, the universal connection terminals 5 a and 13 on the expansion bay 5 side and the expansion secondary battery 30 side are connected to each other, and DC power is supplied from the expansion secondary battery 30 to the standard mounted secondary battery 3 and the data processing unit 2. Supply is made.

  When the AC adapter 10 is connected to the portable information processing apparatus 1 having such a configuration, the general-purpose connection terminal 13 and the external DC power input terminal 4 of the AC adapter 10 are connected as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. A dedicated connection cable 14 having connection terminals 14a and 14b is used for connection. Since the external DC power input terminal 4 is connected to the general-purpose connection terminal 5 a provided in the expansion bay 5 inside the portable information processing apparatus 1, the AC adapter 10 is connected to the expansion bay 5 even if the AC adapter 10 is externally connected. The DC power is supplied in the same manner as when it is attached.

  That is, the AC adapter 10 supplies DC power to the data processing unit 2 and the like via the standard on-board secondary battery 3, and charges the standard on-board secondary battery 3 when the remaining amount is small. Furthermore, the AC adapter 10 can charge the extended secondary battery 30 even when the remaining amount is small.

  The expansion secondary battery 30 to be installed in the expansion bay 5 has the same capacity memory effect as that of the standard secondary battery 3, and incorporates an electronic circuit for preventing overcharge and overdischarge in the unit cell. Can be used.

  As described above, here, the AC adapter 10 that can be mounted in the expansion bay 5 of the portable information processing apparatus 1 is configured, and this is replaced with other expansions such as the CD / DVD drive 20, the expansion HDD 21, and the expansion secondary battery 30. Like the unit, it can be attached to and removed from the expansion bay 5.

  By making the AC adapter 10 such a configuration, the portability of the AC adapter 10 itself can be improved. In addition, by attaching the AC adapter 10 to the expansion bay 5, the AC adapter 10 is included as compared with the case where the AC adapter 10 is carried along with the general-purpose AC adapter that is conventionally attached to the portable information processing apparatus 1. The portability of the portable information processing apparatus 1 can be improved.

  Further, such an AC adapter 10 does not significantly increase in weight as compared with the conventional AC adapter, and the portability of the portable information processing apparatus 1 including the AC adapter 10 is increased in total weight. It is possible to improve without changing.

  In addition, since the AC adapter 10 can be externally connected to the portable information processing apparatus 1 like the conventional AC adapter, the AC adapter 10 is externally connected and the expansion bay 5 has another expansion unit. The portable information processing apparatus 1 can be used in various forms depending on the use environment and purpose of use.

  In the above description, DC power is supplied from the AC adapter 10 installed in the expansion bay 5 or the AC adapter 10 connected to the external DC power input terminal 4 to the data processing unit 2 via the standard on-board secondary battery 3. However, a configuration may be adopted in which DC power is directly supplied from the AC adapter 10 to the data processing unit 2 without using the standard secondary battery 3. In such a case, the DC power is supplied from the AC adapter 10 to the data processing unit 2 and the standard secondary battery 3 or the extended secondary battery mounted in the expansion bay 5 can be charged from the AC adapter 10. To do. In that case, if necessary, an electronic circuit for preventing overcharge or overdischarge is incorporated in the portable information processing apparatus 1.

  In the above description, the portable information processing apparatus 1 such as a notebook personal computer has been described as an example. However, the adapter as described above includes various electronic devices having an expansion bay and capable of supplying power via the adapter. Can be similarly applied, and is particularly suitable for portable electronic devices.

(Appendix 1) In an adapter for supplying power to an electronic device from the outside,
An adapter that can be mounted in an expansion bay included in the electronic device.
(Additional remark 2) The said adapter has the connection terminal of the same structure as the other apparatus which can be mounted | worn in the said expansion bay, The adapter of Additional remark 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Appendix 3) The connection terminal is
And a terminal for communication between the other device and the electronic device and for supplying power from the electronic device to the other device, and a terminal for power input / output of the electronic device. 2. The adapter according to 2.

(Supplementary note 4) The adapter according to Supplementary note 1, wherein the adapter is connected to the outside of the expansion bay of the electronic device so that power can be supplied to the electronic device from the outside.
(Additional remark 5) In the electronic device provided with the expansion bay,
An electronic device, wherein an adapter that can be attached to the expansion bay is connected and power is supplied from the outside.

  (Supplementary note 6) The electronic device according to supplementary note 5, wherein the adapter is detachable from the extension bay, and the adapter is attached to the extension bay and power is supplied from the outside.

  (Supplementary Note 7) The supplementary note 5 includes a connection terminal having a terminal for communication with the expansion bay and for supplying power to the expansion bay, and a terminal for power input / output. The electronic device described.

(Appendix 8) The adapter has a connection terminal corresponding to the connection terminal of the expansion bay,
When the adapter is mounted in the expansion bay, the connection terminal of the expansion bay and the connection terminal of the adapter are connected, and power is supplied from the outside using the power input / output terminal. The electronic device according to appendix 7.

(Supplementary note 9) The electronic device according to supplementary note 8, wherein another device having a connection terminal having the same configuration as the connection terminal of the adapter is attachable to the expansion bay.
(Supplementary Note 10) Provided with an input terminal to which the adapter can be connected outside the expansion bay,
The electronic apparatus according to appendix 5, wherein the adapter is connected to the input terminal and power is supplied from the outside.

(Additional remark 11) The said input terminal is wired to the terminal when power is supplied from the said adapter with which the said expansion bay was mounted | worn, The electronic device of Additional remark 10 characterized by the above-mentioned.
(Supplementary Note 12) A secondary battery for operating power is provided.
The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the secondary battery is charged when the adapter is connected and power is supplied from the outside.

(Supplementary note 13) A secondary battery for operating power is provided,
6. The electronic apparatus according to appendix 5, wherein a device that can be mounted in the expansion bay including the adapter can be replaced during the operation by the power source of the secondary battery.

It is the schematic of a portable information processing apparatus. It is a structural example of a data processing part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of an AC adapter, (A) is a plane schematic diagram, (B) is a front schematic diagram, (C) is a side schematic diagram. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a general purpose connection terminal. It is explanatory drawing of the removal | desorption to the expansion bay of an expansion unit. It is a figure which shows the structural example at the time of mounting | wearing with an AC adapter in an expansion bay. It is a figure which shows the structural example at the time of mounting a CD / DVD drive in an expansion bay. It is an external view of a connection terminal, (A) is a side surface schematic diagram, (B) is a front schematic diagram. It is a figure which shows the structural example at the time of mounting an expansion secondary battery in an expansion bay.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable information processing apparatus 2 Data processing part 2a CPU
2b ROM
2c RAM
2d internal HDD
2e Audio processing unit 2f Video processing unit 2g Input / output interface 2h Communication interface 2i Bus 3 Standard secondary battery 4 External DC power input terminal 5 Expansion bay 5a, 13 General-purpose connection terminal 10 AC adapter 11 AC cable 12 AC input terminal 13a, 13b terminal 14 dedicated connection cable 14a, 14b connection terminal 20 CD / DVD drive 21 expansion HDD
30 Extended secondary battery

Claims (5)

In an adapter for supplying power to an electronic device from the outside,
An adapter that can be mounted in an expansion bay included in the electronic device.   2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter has a connection terminal having the same configuration as that of another device that can be mounted in the expansion bay. In electronic devices with expansion bays,
An electronic device, wherein an adapter that can be attached to the expansion bay is connected and power is supplied from the outside.   The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the adapter is detachable from the expansion bay, and the adapter is mounted in the expansion bay and power is supplied from the outside. An input terminal to which the adapter can be connected outside the expansion bay;
The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the adapter is connected to the input terminal and power is supplied from the outside.

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