JPH0445054Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Technical field of the invention] This invention is a unit that includes a remote control unit that can be operated remotely by separating the keyboard section of the main body of an electronic device, which is a desktop computer, and which is connected to the main body of the computer. This invention relates to a separate keyboard unit that is equipped with a rechargeable power supply unit that can be recharged from time to time, and that can also be used wirelessly.

[Technical background of the invention]

Conventionally, this type of keyboard unit has been as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, only the portions of the desktop computer body and the separate keyboard unit that are involved in data transmission and reception are extracted. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 indicates a desktop computer main body, and reference numeral 9 indicates a separate keyboard unit thereof.

Further, 2 is a power supply section of the desktop computer main body 1, 3 and 4 are an optical signal receiving section, an electrical signal receiving section, and a cable connection detection section, respectively, and 5 is an optical signal receiving section 3, an electrical signal receiving section, and a cable connection. A reception signal switching unit switches the input signal from the detection unit 4, and 6 is reception data from the separate keyboard unit.

On the other hand, inside the separate keyboard unit 9, 10 is a battery, 11 and 12 are an optical signal transmitter and an electric signal transmitter, respectively, and 13 is transmission data sent from the separate keyboard unit 9 to the desktop computer main body 1. be. Power for each part within the separate keyboard unit 9 is supplied from a battery 10.

Note that 7 indicates an optical signal used for transmitting and receiving data in the wireless case, and 8 indicates a connection cable in the wired case.

Next, the operation shown in FIG. 3 will be explained. When the desktop computer main body 1 and the separate keyboard unit 9 are connected by the connection cable 8, the electrical signal receiving section and the cable connection detection section 4 in the desktop computer main body 1 detect that they are connected by the cable. Then, the received signal switching section 5 switches the signals from the electrical signal receiving section and the cable detecting section 4 side.

Thereafter, the transmitted data from the separate keyboard unit 1 is received as received data 6 through an electrical signal transmitting section 12, a connecting cable 8, an electrical signal receiving section and cable connection detecting section 4, and a received signal switching section 5.

On the other hand, when the cable is not connected, the received signal switching section 5 is switched to the optical signal receiving section 3 side, the transmission data 13 is sent from the optical signal transmitting section 11 as an optical signal 7, and the optical signal is received. section 3 and passes through the reception signal switching section 5 to the reception data 6.
becomes.

In this method, the keyboard unit 9
The internal power is supplied from a battery 10.

[Problems with background technology]

In the above-mentioned conventional system, the power source in the separate keyboard unit 9 is comprised of a battery 10, so it is necessary to replace the battery after the battery is exhausted. Therefore, the user had to replace the battery and also had to bear the cost of the battery.

Furthermore, when the power supply voltage drops, the keyboard unit does not become aware of the drop in power supply voltage until it stops working or malfunctions.

[Purpose of invention]

This invention was made in order to eliminate the following disadvantages of the conventional keyboard unit, and to provide a separate keyboard unit that eliminates the trouble and expense of replacing batteries, and also allows the state of the power supply voltage to be determined. With the goal.

[Summary of the idea]

The separated keyboard unit of this invention enables data transmission and reception between the separated keyboard unit and the electronic device itself, which are separated from the main body of the electronic device, including the main body of a desktop computer. a power supply section, a voltage drop detection circuit that detects a drop in the power supply voltage of the rechargeable power supply section, a transmission data generation section that converts a voltage drop detection signal of the voltage drop detection circuit into transmission data, and a transmission data generation section that converts the transmission data into transmission data. A transmitting means for transmitting data to the main body of the electronic device is provided, and a charging current is supplied to the rechargeable power source section when connected to the electronic device.

Furthermore, when the keyboard unit is used separately from the main body of the electronic device, the main body of the electronic device is notified of a drop in the power supply voltage of the separate keyboard unit.

[Example of idea]

Embodiments of the separated keyboard unit of this invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment.
The figure further shows an example of warning of a drop in the power supply voltage. In FIG. 1, in order to avoid redundant explanation, parts that are the same as those in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and parts that are different from those in FIG. 3 will be explained with emphasis.

As is clear from comparing FIG. 1 with FIG. 3, in FIG.
The part indicated by 3 is the same as that shown in FIG.
0 is set. With this rechargeable power supply unit 10,
Electric power is supplied to each part within the separate keyboard unit 9.

On the other hand, a power line 14 is connected from the power supply section 2 of the desktop computer main body 1 to the rechargeable power supply section 1 in the separate keyboard unit 9 through a connection cable.
0 through a diode 15.

In addition, in FIG. 2, the reference numeral 16 is compared with FIG. 1.
- 18 are different, and the voltage drop of the rechargeable power supply unit 10 is detected and transmitted as transmission data.

Next, the operation of this invention will be explained.

In FIG. 1, when the desktop computer main body 1 is not used, or when the separate keyboard unit 9 can be used by connecting it to the desktop computer main body 1 with a cable, the connecting cable 8 connects the desktop computer main body 1 and the separate keyboard. Connect with unit 9.

At this time, the transmitted and received data is transmitted and received through the electrical signal transmitting section 12 and the electrical signal receiving section and cable connection detecting section 4, as in the prior art example.

On the other hand, at this time, the separate keyboard unit 9
The rechargeable power supply unit 10 inside is connected to the power supply unit 2 inside the desktop computer main body 1 via a power line 14 via a connection cable 8 and a diode 15, and is charged.

This diode 15 connects the rechargeable power supply unit 1 when the power inside the desktop computer body 1 is turned off.
This is to prevent current from flowing backwards from zero and causing discharge.

The charging element in this rechargeable power supply unit 10 is as follows:
For example, a NiCad battery or a large-capacity electrolytic capacitor can be used if each part of the separate keyboard unit 9 is constructed with low power consumption.

When the connection cable 8 is removed, the separate keyboard unit 9 operates with the rechargeable power supply section 10 that is charged inside, and can be used wirelessly using the optical signal transmitter 11 and the optical signal receiver 3. I can do it.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, power was supplied from within the desktop computer main body 1 to charge the keyboard, but the separate keyboard unit can be used as a rechargeable unit by itself using an AC adapter, regardless of the desktop computer main body 1. Good too.

Next, the operation of the portions in FIG. 2 that are different from those in FIG. 1 will be explained. In FIG. 2, when the separate keyboard unit 9 is used wirelessly and the power switch 18 is turned on, if the voltage of the rechargeable power supply section 10 has decreased, the voltage drop detection circuit section 16
detects this and notifies the transmission data generation section 17. The transmission data generation section 17 generates voltage drop notification transmission data, and sends it from the optical signal transmission section 11 to the desktop computer main body 1 as an optical signal 7. The computer main body 1 receives this and performs processing to warn that the power supply voltage of the separate type keyboard unit 9 has decreased by displaying it on the display or by sounding a buzzer or the like.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, according to this invention, when a rechargeable power supply unit is connected within a separate keyboard unit and the separate keyboard unit is connected to a desktop computer main body, power is supplied from it to charge it, or Alternatively, since power is supplied from outside and charged independently of the desktop computer itself, the effort and expense of replacing the battery of the separate keyboard unit are eliminated. Furthermore, since a drop in the power supply voltage within the keyboard unit is detected and a warning is sent to the computer main body, it is possible to issue a warning to the operator on the display or buzzer of the computer main body to urge the operator to charge the battery.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are block diagrams of an embodiment of the rechargeable separate type keyboard unit of this invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional separate type keyboard unit. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Tabletop computer main body, 2... Power supply section, 3... Optical signal receiving section, 4... Electric signal receiving section and cable connection detection section, 5... Received data switching section, 8... Connection cable, 9 ... Separate keyboard unit, 10 ... Rechargeable power supply section, 11 ...
Optical signal transmitter, 12... Electric signal transmitter, 13...
...Transmission data, 14...Power line, 15...Diode, 16...Voltage drop detection circuit section, 17...
...Transmission data generation unit, 18...Power switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A separate keyboard unit that is separated from the main body of an electronic device and is capable of transmitting data to and from the main body of the electronic device, the separate keyboard unit having a rechargeable power source inside the separate keyboard unit. a voltage drop detection circuit that detects a drop in the power supply voltage of the rechargeable power supply section; a transmission data generation section that converts and generates a voltage drop detection signal of the voltage drop detection circuit into transmission data; 1. A separate type keyboard unit, comprising a transmitting means for transmitting data to an electronic device main body, and a charging current is supplied to the rechargeable power supply unit when connected to the electronic device main body.