Abstract:
A system involves the use of a power sensing circuit and an actuating module to automatically press the power control button on a portable computer used as a fixed work station when primary power is applied. The actuator module preferably employs a solenoid which controls the displacement of an actuating arm to selectively depress the power control button.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/144,049 filed on Apr. 7, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    It is highly desirable to use portable computers, such as laptops and tablets, because of their low cost and battery operation at fixed locations such as workstations and time clocks to name a few. As a work station or time clock, it is desirable to continuously keep the computer operational and not require the user to turn on the power, to use the station. One of the problems of using portable computers is that their power switch, by design, is located within easy reach for the user. This exposed power switch is subjected to unauthorized turning off the computer, causing operational delays and possible loss of data. To prevent this, the portable computer is enclosed in a tamper proof enclosure. However, enclosing the power switch creates a problem when it is desirable to turn the computer on and off by authorized personnel. 
         [0003]    This disclosure relates to automatically pressing the power button, on the portable computer, when power is initially applied or after a primary power outage, caused the computers batteries to deplete, and shut down. 
         [0004]    A limited access tab allows authorized personnel to turn on and off the power to the computer without disassembling the computer tamper proof enclosure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An automatic power activator, which is mechanically attached to the portable computer, when activated by a power control module, will press the power control button on the portable computer. The power control module monitors the primary power sources and the operational status of the portable computer. When primary power is applied to the power control module and the portable computer is in the off mode, a voltage pulse is sent from the power control circuit to the solenoid actuator, causing it to move the actuator arm in such a manner as to press the power control button on the portable computer. This action causes the portable computer to turn on. 
         [0006]    An automatic activating system for a manual power control switch for a computer comprises a power control module and an actuator module. The power control module comprises a microprocessor which selectively generates a signal in response to the status of the power control switch and at least one power input. The actuator module comprises a displaceable actuator arm selectively engageable against a button for the power control switch and responsive to said signal for controlling the status of the switch. 
         [0007]    The actuator module is mounted at an underside of the computer and, in one embodiment, is secured to the underside by double-sided tape. In one embodiment, the actuator module further comprises a solenoid for controlling the position of the actuator arm. The signal comprises a voltage pulse. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, when the microprocessor senses a primary voltage input, a USB power input at a USB connector to the computer is checked. When there is no voltage at the USB connector, a voltage pulse is transmitted to a solenoid operatively connecting the actuator arm. When the microprocessor senses a primary voltage input at the USB connector, no voltage pulse is transmitted to the solenoid for the actuator arm. The computer has a battery power supply and the power control module controls said actuator module so that the computer power switch is on when the battery power supply powers the computer and the computer is not supplied power from an external source. 
         [0009]    An automatic power control activating system comprises a computer with a power control switch having an exteriorly manually activatable button. An actuator module comprises a bracket mounting a solenoid operatively connected to a displaceable actuator arm. The actuator arm selectively engages against the button. The solenoid is responsive to a signal for controlling the status of the switch by controlling the position of the actuator arm. A power control module comprises a microprocessor which selectively generates the signal in response to the status of the power control switch. The actuator module is mounted at an underside of the computer. The signal comprises a voltage pulse. In some operational modes, the battery power supply of the computer supplies the power for the computer. The actuator arm is positionable so that the power switch is on when the battery power supply powers the computer and the computer is not supplied power from an external source. 
         [0010]    An automatic power control activating system comprises a computer having an internal power supply and a power control switch with an externally depressible button transformable between an off status and an on status. A power control module, which selectively generates an operational signal in response to the status of the power control switch and at least one input. An actuator module comprising a displaceable actuator arm selectively engages against the button and is responsive to the operational signal for controlling the status of the power control switch. The actuator module is preferably positioned at an underside of the computer. The depression of the power control switch button changes the power control on/off status to an opposite status. The power control module senses power supplied to the computer from an exterior power source or power supplied over the internet. In one embodiment, the automatic power control activating system comprises a power control module which senses a computer output which may be either a USB voltage or an audio jack voltage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view, partly in phantom, of a power switch actuator module, attached to the underside of a portable computer and connected to a power control module; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cutaway side view, partly in phantom, of the enclosure housing the portable computer with the power switch and actuator module attached to the underside of the portable computer and the actuator module plugged into the control module with its input and output connectors; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the power switch actuator module; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an isometric exploded view of the power switch actuator module components; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an annotated block diagram of the power control module, portable computer and the power switch actuator module; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an annotated timing diagram of the power control system; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart for the operation of the automatic activating system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the several figures, a system for automatically activating a power control switch of a computer comprises an actuator control module and is generally designated by the numeral  10 . 
         [0019]    The present invention may be employed, for example, with different power switch actuator modules, muscle wire, motor driven or other cam driven methods, although the operation of the invention is described with reference to a solenoid driven actuator arm. 
         [0020]    The drawing figures illustrate a power sensor module, generally indicated by the reference  100  and a power actuator generally indicated by reference  200 . Both components may be constructed according to the present disclosure. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates the power switch actuator module  200  mechanically attached to the base of the portable computer (tablet)  300  such that the actuator arm  204  is positioned directly in front of and slightly touching the portable computer power control button  302 . When the power switch actuator module  200  is energized, it will move in the direction shown as  208  such that it will press on the portable computer power control button  302 , activating the portable computer  300 . The actuator control module  100 , which may or may not be attached to the portable computer  300 , is shown for reference only. The portable computer internal battery  304  is also shown for reference only. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cutaway side view of a representative enclosure  400  as described in U.S. Pat. No. D697,910 issued Jan. 21, 2014 to James S Bianco et al, and titled Touch Screen Terminal for Time and Attendance Systems, with bezel  401  and the enclosure base  402  housing the portable computer  300 . The power switch actuator module  200  is attached to the underside of the portable computer  300  with a double sided tape  206 . The activator solenoid  201  is plugged in to the actuator control module  100  with its power connector  107 . The actuator arm  205  is attached to the actuator plunger  202 , using the actuator attachment pin  203 . The portable computer power input connector  301  is connected to portable computer  300  and the actuator control module  100  with the power output connector  109 . The portable computer USB connector  303  is connected to portable computer  300  and the power control module  100  with the USB connector  108 . Additionally, the AC to DC power module  500  output connector  501  and the Ethernet  600  connector  601  are plugged into the power input connector  105  and the network input connector  103  on the actuator control card  100 , respectively. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates the power switch actuator module assembly  200 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the power switch actuator module  200  prior to assembly of the components. The actuator arm  204  is attached to the actuator plunger  202  secured by the actuator pin  203 , and the assembly is inserted into the actuator solenoid  201  attached to the actuator mounting bracket  204  with solenoid mounting screws  208 . Double sided actuator mounting tape  206  is applied to the top of the mounting bracket  205 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  Is a block diagram, of the system required for automatically pressing the power control push button  302  to activate computer  300 , when primary power is supplied from either the network  600  or the power module  500  to the computer network input connection  103  or the power input connection  105 , respectively. When network power  600  is applied to the network input connector  103 , it is converted by POE converter  102  to a compatible voltage level  114  for computer  300  and applied via the Ethernet power diode  104  to the power input  301 . When AC line power  502  is applied to the power module  500  at input  502 , it is converted to a compatible voltage level  114  for computer  300  and applied via the power module diode  106  to the power input  301 . The voltage  114  is also applied to the microprocessor  101  analogue input  110  and the FET power transistor  113 . 
         [0025]    When the microprocessor  101  senses a primary voltage input  110 , the microprocessor  101  checks the USB power input  111 . When there is no voltage present at the computer USB connector  303  (indicating that the computer  300  has been turned off), the microprocessor will generate a voltage pulse on its solenoid output  112 . This, in turn, will turn on the FET power transistor  113 . When the power transistor  113  turns on, it will provide a voltage pulse to the actuator solenoid  201 , which will cause the actuator plunger  202  to be drawn into the solenoid  201 . This motion  208  will apply a force on the portable computer  300  power control button  302 , turning on the portable computer  300 . When there is voltage present at the USB power sense input  111  (indicating that the computer  300  has been turned on), the microprocessor will not generate a voltage pulse on its solenoid output  112 . This is because a pulse by the actuator  200  to the computer power control button  302  while the computer  300  is on, would turn off the computer  300 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a timing diagram of the system required for automatically pressing the power control push button  302  to activate computer  300 , when primary power is supplied, from either the network  600 , or the power module  500 , to the computer network input connection  103 , or the power input connection  105 , respectively. The timing diagram shows the relationship between primary input voltages  103 A and/or  105 A and the pressing of the computer power control button  302 A. 
         [0027]    When primary voltage is first applied to either the network input connector  103 A or the power module input connector  105 A, a voltage is supplied to the portable computer power input connector  301 A, and the microprocessor primary power sense input  110 A. The microprocessor  101  will recognize that primary power  114  has been supplied to the computer  300 . The microprocessor  101  will then test to see if there is a voltage  115 A on the USB power sense input  111 . If there is no voltage  115 A on the USB power sense input  111 , the microprocessor  101  will generate a voltage pulse on its digital output  112 , which, in turn, will turn on the FET transistor  113  sending a voltage pulse  107 A to the power switch actuator module coil  201 . 
         [0028]    When the power switch actuator coil  201  is energized, it will cause the actuator plunger  202  and actuator arm  204 A, attached to the actuator plunger  202 , to be drawn into the actuator coil  201  in the direction  208 . This motion will cause the activator arm  204 A to momentarily press the power switch  302 A, which in turn should cause the computer  300  to become active. After a short delay  117 A, the microprocessor  101  will again test to see if there is a voltage  115 B on the USB power sense input  111 . If there is no voltage  115 B on the USB power sensing input  111 , then the microprocessor  101 , after delay time  2   118 B, will again generate a second power on pulse  107 C. After a fixed number of failed attempts to turn on computer  300 , the power is removed from the power control module  100  and reapplied to start the sequence again. However, when the computer  300  turns on supplying the USB voltage output  115 C, the power on sequence will stop. 
         [0029]    When both network power  601  B and line power  501  B are lost and the computer power  114 B is not available, but the computer  300  continues to receive power from its internal battery  304 , the USB voltage output  115 D will also remain on until the internal battery  304  is depleted in the computer  300  and turns off. Should the line power  501  B or the network power  601  C be restored before the computer  300  internal battery is depleted, then no power on sequence will take place because pressing the power on button  302  would cause the computer  300  to turn off. 
         [0030]    While preferred embodiments of the foregoing have been set forth for purposes of illustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.