JPH0566864A - Extension system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a power source supply control function which can control appropriately a voltage and a current of a supply power source in accordance with the kind of a machine to be connected without depending on man-power, even in the case plural kinds of machines whose necessary voltage/current capacity, etc., are different are connected to a function extending device, in the extension system consisting of a miniature electric apparatus having a specific function, and the function extending device having a connecting port of the same electronic apparatus, and for extending a function of the electronic apparatus connected to the same connecting port. CONSTITUTION:In the extension system consisting of a PC main body 1, and a function extending device 2 for extending a function of the same FC main body 1, this system is constituted so that in accordance with information sent out of a machine kind information sending-out part 11 of the PC main body 1, a charging circuit 23 is controlled so that a charging control part 22 of the function extending device 2 outputs a charging current confirming to the kind of a machine to be connected, discriminated by a machine kind discriminating part 21, and even against the PC main bodies of plural kinds of machines whose voltage/current capacity, etc., are different, respectively, the power source is always subjected to supply control by an appropriate voltage/ current capacity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a small electronic device having a specific function and a function expanding device having a connecting port for the electronic device and expanding the function of the electronic device connected to the connecting port. About the extended system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable computers of laptop type, book type, etc. have become widespread as small electronic devices that can be easily transported.

Since this type of portable computer places importance on portability, the functions of the computer main body can be minimized and the functions can be expanded by connecting the computer main body to a separately prepared function expansion device. The system configuration is adopted.

At this time, the portable computer is
Generally, it has a built-in rechargeable battery and can operate with the same battery. Many portable computers with this type of built-in battery have a removable built-in battery, and some models have multiple types of built-in batteries with different current capacities for the purpose of use. There is also a configuration that can be arbitrarily selected and loaded into the main body.

On the other hand, the function expansion device has its own power supply unit, and supplies a necessary power to the computer main body when a device to be connected, for example, a portable computer main body is connected, a power adapter (AC adapter). Often designed to work as well as. That is,
The function expansion device supplies a main body of a portable computer connected to the device with a power supply having a voltage and current capacity necessary for operation, charging and the like.

The device connected to the function expansion device may be limited to one type, but a device having a structure in which different models can be connected to one function expansion device has also appeared.

As described above, when different types of devices use a common function expansion device, if a power supply having the same voltage or current capacity is required between the models, the function expansion device supplies the same to the connected device. It is not necessary to switch the voltage or current capacity to be used. However, when the magnitude of the required voltage or current differs between the connected models, it is necessary to change (switch) the voltage or the current according to the model. For example, when a portable computer in which batteries having different current capacities are mounted is connected to the function expansion device, if the power supply for charging the battery is the same, that is, if the voltage and the current supplied are the same. However, problems such as overcharging or a long time required for charging may occur.

[0008]

As described above, when a plurality of types of small electronic devices having different required power sources can be selectively connected to a function expansion device having a power supply mechanism for connecting devices, Appropriate voltage and
Although it is necessary to supply a power supply with a current capacity, conventionally, there has been no expansion system capable of controlling the power supply without human operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation,
Even if multiple types of devices with different required voltage and current capacity are connected to the function expansion device, without human intervention,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an expansion system having a power supply control function that can appropriately control the voltage and current of the power supply according to the connected model.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a function expansion device having a small electronic device having a specific function and a connection port for the electronic device, and expanding the function of the electronic device connected to the connection port. In the expansion system consisting of, the electronic device has means for generating specific information for informing the function expansion device of the voltage and current of the power supply required by the device, and the function expansion device is connected to the connection port. Power supply that recognizes the voltage or current of the power supply required by the electronic device from the specified information received from the electronic device connected to and supplies the power according to the recognized voltage or current to the electronic device connected to the connection port. Have means,
The function expansion device is configured to have a power supply control function that appropriately controls the voltage and current of the power supply according to the connected device.

[0011]

The function expansion device recognizes the voltage / current capacity or the like required by the connected device based on the information received from the connected device, and supplies the connected device with power according to the voltage / current capacity. As a result, it is possible to constantly supply a power source having a voltage / current capacity suitable for the connected device to a plurality of types of devices having different required voltage / current capacities and the like.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a small electronic device having a specific function to be expanded, and here, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) having peripheral devices such as a keyboard, a display, and an external storage device as a standard configuration. An example is a PC main body).

Reference numeral 2 denotes a function expansion device (function expansion unit) having a connection port to which the PC main body 1 can be connected, and using the connected PC main body 1 as a host machine to realize the function expansion by mounting expansion equipment not shown. Is.

Reference numerals 11 and 12 are constituent elements of the PC main body 1, and 11 is the voltage of the power source required for the self-device.
This is a sending unit that sends specific information for notifying the function expansion device 2 of the current capacity to the PC main body 1. Here, a model information sending unit that enables model discrimination is taken as an example.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a rechargeable battery built in the PC main body 1, which is used when the AC adapter is not used.
It serves as a drive power source for the main body 1.

Reference numerals 21 to 23 are constituent elements of the function expansion device 2, and reference numeral 21 is a PC main body connected to the connection port upon receiving the model information transmitted from the model information transmission section 11 of the PC main body 1. A model discriminating unit that discriminates the model number 1. Reference numeral 22 is a charging control unit that controls the output of the charging current with the voltage / current capacity specific to the battery 12 of the connected model according to the information of the discrimination result of the model discrimination unit 21. A charging circuit 23 supplies the charging current of the battery 12 to the PC body 1 connected to the connection port under the control of the charging control unit 22.

The operation of the above embodiment will now be described.

The PC main body 1 is connected to the function expansion device 2 when expanding the functions.

At this time, the model information transmission section 11 of the PC body 1
Sends model information indicating the model of its own device to the function expansion device 2.

The model discriminating unit 21 of the function expanding device 2 receives the model information transmitted from the model information transmitting unit 11, and
The model of the PC main body 1 connected to the connection port is determined, and the determination information is sent to the charging control unit 22.

The charging control unit 22 follows the discrimination information received from the model discriminating unit 21 so that the charging circuit 23 outputs the charging current with the voltage / current capacity specific to the battery 12 of the connected model.
To control. Under the control of the charge control unit 22, the charging circuit 23 is connected to the battery port 1 of the PC main body 1 connected to the connection port.
2 to supply the appropriate charging current.

By such power supply control, even when a model having batteries of different capacities is connected to the single function expansion device 2, the charging power supply of appropriate voltage / current capacity is always supplied. You can

In the above embodiment, the power supply control for controlling the voltage / current for charging the battery has been described, but for other purposes such as an operating power supply excluding charging or an operating power supply including charging. It can be realized in the same manner as above when controlling the voltage and current used for the.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the personal computer is taken as an example of the device whose function is to be expanded, but it can be applied to other electric / electronic devices.

Further, in the above embodiment, the battery 12
By adding a circuit that feeds back the state information of (1) to the charging control unit 22 and controlling the charging current based on the feedback information, more appropriate charging control becomes possible.

[0028]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the functions of a small electronic device having a specific function and a connection port for the electronic device, and the function of the electronic device connected to the connection port are expanded. In the expansion system consisting of the function expansion device, the electronic device has means for generating specific information for notifying the function expansion device of the voltage and current of the power supply required by the electronic device. , Recognizes the voltage or current of the power supply required by the electronic device from the specific information received from the electronic device connected to the connection port, and supplies the power source according to the recognized voltage or current to the electronic device connected to the connection port. With the configuration including the power supply means for supplying power, even when a plurality of types of devices having different required voltage / current capacities are connected to the function expansion device, the function expansion is performed without human intervention. Expansion unit supplies according to connected device The voltage and current sources can be properly controlled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Small electronic device (PC main body), 2 ... Function expansion device (function expansion unit), 11 ... Model information transmission part, 12 ... Battery, 21 ... Model discrimination part, 22 ... Charging control part, 23 ...
Charging circuit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An expansion system comprising a small electronic device having a specific function and a function expansion device having a connection port for the electronic device and expanding the function of the electronic device connected to the connection port. The electronic device has a power supply request information generation unit that requests the function expansion device to supply power required by the device, and the function expansion device receives from the electronic device connected to the connection port. An expansion system comprising a power supply means for supplying power according to the power supply request information to the electronic device connected to the connection port. 2. An expansion system comprising a small electronic device having a specific function and a function expansion device having a connection port for the electronic device and expanding the function of the electronic device connected to the connection port. The electronic device has at least a built-in battery or means for outputting device information specific to the device capable of recognizing a power source necessary for operation, and the function expansion device is connected to the connection port. At least recognize the built-in battery state or standard of the device from the device information received from the electronic device, or recognize the standard of the power supply necessary for operation, and connect the power supply with the voltage and current capacity according to the recognized content to the connection port. An expansion system comprising power supply means for supplying the electronic device to the electronic device.