Adapter for external battery and battery system

Abstract: An adapter for selectively connecting an external battery which is used as a power source of a portable notebook type computer to the computer or a charger, and an external battery system for controlling the connection between the adapter, the computer and the charger. The external battery is connectable to the adapter, and the adapter is connected to either the charger or the computer. A diode for selectively regulating either the direction for charging the external battery or the direction for introducing the power from the external battery is provided within the adapter. The adapter, the charger and the computer are selectively connected with each other by a common cable. There are three typical connection modes. In the mode A, the charger supplies a power to the computer. If the computer is being operated, the charger directly supplies a power of a constant voltage to the group of devices in the computer. If the computer is in an inoperative state, the charger supplies a power of a constant current for charging the internal battery. In the mode B, the charger charges the external battery through the adapter and outputs a power of a constant current. In the mode C, the power from the external battery is supplied to the computer through the adapter. The external battery is connected to the group of devices in parallel with the internal battery. Both batteries are operated in cooperation with each other. After the external battery is connected to the computer, the computer keeps on operating even if the internal battery is removed. Thus, it is unnecessary to back up the data in the computer.

Description: The present invention relates to a spare battery unit which is chargeable so as to supply an electric power to battery-driven machines such as a notebook type personal computer and, more particularly, to an adapter for an external battery and a battery system including such an adapter. Various battery-driven machines which utilize a chargeable battery as their power source have become widespread. An example of such machines is a notebook type personal computer. A notebook type personal computer is advantageous in that it is portable because it is driven by a battery removably installed in the interior of the machine without the need for connection with the mains power. Before the power of the battery is consumed, the battery is charged by a charger, thereby maintaining the function of the battery. A conventional battery will now be explained with reference to Fig. 3. A personal computer 1 is provided therewithin with an internal battery 2 which is removable and chargeable, and the electric power of the battery 2 is utilized for various operations. When the internal battery 2 is charged, a predetermined DC is supplied from a DCIN terminal 3 and introduced to the internal battery 2 so as to charge it. For this purpose, the DCIN terminal 3 is connected to a DC cable 4, and the DC cable 4 is connected to a plug socket 6 through an AC adapter/charger 5. The AC power (usually AC 100 to 240 V) from the plug socket 6 is converted into a predetermined DC power (e.g., DC 12V) by the AC adapter/charger, and input to the DCIN terminal 3 of the personal computer 1 through the DC cable 4, thereby charging the internal battery 2. In this way, by charging the internal battery 2 with a predetermined frequency, it is possible to maintain the power of the internal battery 2 and to drive the personal computer by utilizing the power. However, since the capacity of the internal battery 2 is limited, it is at most about 2 hours that the continuous duty of the computer is satisfied without charging. Although it is possible to prolong the time enabling the continuous use of the computer by increasing the capacity of the internal battery 2, since the weight of the personal computer 1 is thereby increased, there is a limit to increase in the capacitor of the internal battery 2. In order to enable the continuous use of the computer for a long time use without charging while maintaining the light weight of the personal computer 1, the same battery as the internal battery 2 may be prepared as a spare battery which replaces the internal battery 2 after a predetermined time has passed. However, during the period when the batteries are being changed, the power supply to the personal computer 1 is zero, so that the data and the like which are stored in an RAM or the like of the personal computer 1 are lost. To prevent this, a battery for backing up the RAM is prepared in the personal computer 1 separately from the internal battery 2 so as to save the data and the like in a memory such as a magnetic disk which can store the data before the power supply to the personal computer is cut off for the purpose of exchanging the batteries. This is, however, also disadvantageous in that the system for providing the backup battery within the personal computer 1 requires an additional device, which occupies a considerable space in the personal computer 1, increases the weight of the computer and leads to the rise in cost. Especially, since the backup battery is not operated at an ordinary time, it is inefficient to provide it within the personal computer 1. In addition, it is troublesome for the user to save the data and the like in a magnetic disk or the like before exchanging the batteries and to restore the data after they are exchanged. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above-described problems in the related art and to provide an adapter for an external battery and a battery system which are capable of efficiently utilizing an external battery. This object is achieved as for the adapter by an adapter having the features mentioned in claim 1 and as for the battery system by a battery system having the features mentioned in claim 3. The invention is further developed by the features mentioned in the subclaims. According to the present invention, it is possible to output the power of the external battery from the power output terminal and to receive the charged power of the external battery from the input terminal by connecting the adapter for an external battery to the external battery. By connecting the adapter for an external battery to the charger, it is possible to charge the external battery. It is also possible to supply the power of the external battery to the machine by connecting the adapter for an external battery to the computer. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the external appearance of an embodiment of an adapter for an external battery and a battery system, showing three connection modes of the adapter with a charger and a computer; Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of the power circuitry within the adapter for an external battery, the charger and the computer shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an explanatory view of a conventional adapter in the state of charging a battery within a computer. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an adapter for an external battery according to the present invention and an external battery which is connected to the adapter. The connection between the adapter, a charger and a computer can be established by one cable in three modes by switching, as shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, an external battery 7 is chargeable and it is formed into a portable battery power pack. For example, a battery MBC-18NBAT, produced by Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. is preferred. In order to connect the external battery 7 to a charger or a computer, an adapter 9 for an external battery which is characteristic of the present invention is provided. The adapter 9 incorporates diodes for selectively restricting the connection circuits and the current paths, as will be described later. The adapter 9 is also provided with a connector for electrically connecting the adapter 9 to the battery 7 and another connector for electrically connecting the adapter 9 to an external charger or a computer, as will be described later. In Fig. 1, an external device connector is represented by the numeral 10. The external battery 7 shown in Fig. 1 constitutes an auxiliary power source with respect to a portable notebook type computer. A power is supplied from the external battery 7 to a notebook type computer 24 through a cable 32 via the adapter 9. The notebook type computer 24 is, for example, a portable computer of MBC-18NB series, produced by Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. An internal battery for executing ordinary operations is naturally provided within the computer 24. The adapter 9 of the present invention allows the external battery 7 to effectively cooperate with the internal battery. A charger 13 is provided so as to selectively charge either the external battery 7 or the internal battery provided within the computer 24 through the common cable 32. The charger 13 receives the supply of an AC power from the mains power source through a plug socket 5, rectifies the current and lowers the voltage thereof. Thereafter, the charger 13 supplies the current to the external battery 7, the internal battery within the computer 24 or the group of devices through the cable 32 as a charging or driving current. As will be described later, according to the present invention, since the adapter 9 for an external battery has a characteristic connecting structure and characteristic current paths, it is possible to connect the adapter 9 to the computer 24 and the charger 13 in three different charging or power supply modes by using the common cable 32. As is clear from Fig. 1, the common cable 32 has four-terminal connectors 31a, 31b at the respective ends thereof. Fig. 2 shows the power circuitry of the adapter 9 having a structure characteristic of the present invention, the charger 13 and the notebook type computer 24. The external battery 7 is a chargeable battery which has the same ability as the internal battery for supplying a power necessary for driving the personal computer. The external battery 7 is connected to the adapter 9 for an external battery through the battery connecter 8 of the adapter 9. The positive pole of the external battery 7 is connected to the positive-pole terminal 8a of the battery connector 8, and the negative pole of the external battery 7 is connected to the negative-pole terminal 8b of the battery connector 8. The adapter 9 for an external battery has an external device connector 10, and the connector 10 has four terminals 10a to 10d. The first terminal 10a and the second terminal 10b are connected to the positive-pole terminal 8a of the connector 8 through a diode 11 for checking the inflow of a current and a diode 12 for checking the outflow of a current, respectively. The third terminal 10c (through terminal) is connected to the negative-pole terminal (common terminal) 8b, and the fourth terminal 10d is open. If a load is connected between the first terminal 10a and the third terminal 10c, the power of the external battery 7 is supplied to the load through the diode 11. On the other hand, if the second terminal 10b and the third terminal 10c are connected to a DC supply source, it is possible to charge the external battery 7 through the diode 12. In Fig. 2, the charger 13 is composed of an AC adapter 13a for AC/DC conversion and a charge controller 13b for controlling the output DC power. The AC adapter 13 includes a rectifier 14 which is connected to the plug socket 5, a capacitor 15 for smoothing the output of the rectifier 14 and a voltage-drop transformer 16 for lowering the smoothed DC voltage. A switching transistor 17 supplies a predetermined control signal to the primary coil of the voltage-drop transistor 16, and a diode 18 and a capacitor 19 are used to obtain a predetermined DC power at the output of the secondary coil of the voltage-drop transformer 16. The AC power (usually AC 100/110 V) supplied from the plug socket 5 is therefore output as a predetermined DC power which is determined by the ON/OFF of the switching transistor 17. In other words, as the smaller the duty ratio of the pulsating control signal which controls the ON/OFF of the switching transistor 17 is, the smaller is the output power of the transistor 17, so that it is possible to control the output power by the ON/OFF control of the switching transistor 17. The charge controller 13b is composed of a changeover switch 20, a connector 23 having four terminals 23a to 23d, a controller 22 and a resistor 21 for pulling up the potential of the line connecting the terminal 23d and the controller 22. The input terminal of the changeover switch 20 is connected to the DC power output terminal of the AC adapter 13a, while one output terminal is connected to the terminal 23a of the connector 23 and the other output terminal is connected to the terminal 23b. The DC output from the AC adapter 13a is therefore output from either the terminal 23a or the terminal 23b in accordance with the switching operation of the changeover switch 20. As will be described later, when the charger 13 is connected to the computer 24, it is possible to determine whether the power of the charger 13 should drive directly each device of the computer 24 or charge the internal battery. The controller 22 controls the switching operation of the changeover switch 20 and the ON/OFF operation of the switching transistor 17 in the AC adapter 13a in accordance with the signal supplied from the computer 24 to the controller 22 through the terminal 23d. In other words, when the controller 22 judges from the signal input from the computer 24 to the terminal 23d that the personal computer 24 is being operated, the controller 22 connects the changeover switch 20 to the terminal 23a and so controls the ON/OFF operation of the switching transistor 17 that a power having a predetermined voltage is output from the terminal 23a. As a result, the computer 24 is driven by the charger 13. On the other hand, when the controller 22 judges from the signal input from the computer 24 to the terminal 23d that the personal computer 24 is in an inoperative state, the controller 22 connects the changeover switch 20 to the terminal 23b and so controls the ON/OFF operation of the switching transistor 17 that a power having a constant current is output from the terminal 23b. As a result, the internal battery within the computer 24 is charged. The terminal 23c is connected to the grounding side of the voltage-drop transistor 16 of the AC adapter 13a. The personal computer 24 includes a removable internal battery 25, a load 26 for conducting various operations of the personal computer, and a connector 27 having four terminals 27a to 27d for connecting the computer 24 to an external device. The positive pole of the internal battery 25 and the terminal 27a are connected to the load 26 such as CPU, memory, display, hard disk drive and floppy disk drive through a power switch 28, so that it is possible to supply the power from the internal battery 25 or the terminal 27a to the load 26. A diode 29 for preventing a current from flowing to the internal battery 25 is provided between the internal battery 25 and the path connecting the power switch 28 and the terminal 27a. All the currents from the terminal 27a are therefore used to drive the computer 24 and the internal battery 25 is inhibited from being charged. Thus, in the present invention, while the charger 13 is driving the computer 24, the driving of the computer 24 at a constant voltage is not impaired by the current for charging the internal battery 25. The terminal 27b is connected to the positive pole of the internal battery 25 through a diode 30, thereby enabling the internal battery 25 to be charged by the current supplied from the charger 13 through the terminal 27b. At this time, the charger 23 outputs a constant current and charges the internal battery 25 by a constant current in accordance with the charged state of the internal battery 25. A power ON/OFF detection signal is output from the load 26 to the terminal 27d, and the information about which charging mode should be selected is output from the terminal 27d. The terminal 27c is a grounding terminal (0-V common terminal). As described above, according to the present invention, the adapter 9 for an external battery, the charger 13 and the personal computer 24 have the common four-terminal connectors 10, 23 and 27, respectively. It is therefore possible to connect each other by the DC cable 32 having the four-terminal connectors 31a, 31b at the respective ends in a desired mode, as shown in Fig. 1. The adapter of the present invention and the charger and the computer which are connected to the adapter have the above-described power circuitry. Three charging and driving modes of the computer using the adapter 9 of the present invention will be explained in the following. Mode A (the computer 24 is driven and the internal battery 25 is charged by the charger 13) In this mode, the computer 24 is connected to the charger 13 by the cable 32. In the mode A, a mode is further selected from two different power supply modes depending upon whether or not the computer 24 is being operated. In a first mode, the computer 24 is being operated. The charger 13 detects the operative state of the computer 24 and supplies a power having a constant voltage to the computer 24. In a second mode, the computer 24 is in an inoperative state, and the computer 24 requires the charger 13 to supply a power having a constant current for charging the internal battery 25. When the charger 13 is connected to the personal computer 24 by the DC cable 32, the load 26 outputs an operative state detection signal of [H] or [L] from the terminal 27d in accordance with the state of the power switch 28. For example, when the power switch 28 is ON, the load 26 outputs a signal of [L] which requires the supply of an operating current to the load 26. On the other hand, when the power switch 28 is OFF, the load 26 outputs a signal of [H] which requires the internal battery 25 to be charged. The detection signal of [H] or [L] is supplied to the controller 22 through the terminal 23d of the charge controller 13b. The controller 22 operates the transistor 17 and the switch 20 in accordance with the detection signal. If the detection signal indicates the demand for an operating current when the power switch 28 is ON (i.e, a detection signal of [L]), the controller 22 switches the connection of the changeover switch 20 from the terminal 23b to the terminal 23a, controls the switching transistor 17 so as to output a constant voltage and outputs a power of a constant voltage from the terminal 23a. The personal computer 24 receives the constant voltage from the terminal 27a, and the load 26 is operated by the power of the constant voltage. On the other hand, if the detection signal obtained at the terminal 23d indicates the demand for a charging current when the power switch 28 is OFF (i.e, a detection signal of [H]), the controller 22 switches the connection of the changeover switch 20 from the terminal 23a to the terminal 23b, controls the switching transistor 17 so as to output a constant current and outputs a power of a constant current from the terminal 23b. Since the power of a constant current is supplied to the personal computer 24 from the terminal 27b, it is supplied to the internal battery 25 through the diode 30, thereby charging the internal battery 25. Mode B (the external battery 7 is charged by the charger 13) In the mode B, a charging power is supplied from the charger 13 to the battery 7 in order to fully charge the external battery 7. The adapter 9 of the present invention is used for charging. The charger 13 outputs a power having a constant current for charging the external battery 7. When the charger 13 is connected to the adapter 9 for an external battery by the DC cable 32, which is used in common in each mode, since the terminal 10d of the adapter 9 for an external battery is open, the level of the signal obtained at the terminal 23d becomes [H] by virtue of the pull-up resistor 21. The controller 22 judges that there is a demand for charging, switches the connection of the switch 20 from the terminal 23a to the terminal 23b, and simultaneously supplies a constant current control signal to the switching transistor 17. A constant current is therefore output from the terminal 23b. A constant current is thus obtained at the terminal 10b of the adapter 9 for an external battery, and it is supplied to the external battery 7 through the diode 12, thereby charging the external battery 7. Mode C (the computer 24 is driven by the external battery 7) In the mode C, the power of the external battery 7 is directly supplied to the load 26 of the computer 24 through the adapter 9, and the external battery 7 is used either in place of or in corporation with the internal battery 25. In the mode C, it is possible to directly supply the power of the external battery 7 to the load 26 without the need for removing the internal battery 25 from the computer 24. It is also possible to remove the internal battery 25 from the computer 24 for charging the internal battery 25 during this auxiliary power supply. The backing up of the memory for data is therefore dispensed with, which is necessary at the time of exchanging the live batteries in the prior art. When the adapter 9 for an external battery is connected to the personal computer 24 by the DC cable 32, the current from the external battery 7 is supplied to the terminal 27a of the personal computer 24 through the diode 11 and the terminal 10a. The power is therefore supplied to the load 26 through the power switch 28, and the load 26 operates by the power of the external battery 7. At this time, the power of the internal battery 25 within the personal computer 24 is also supplied to the load 26 through the diode 29 and the power switch 28. It is therefore possible to operate the personal computer 24 by utilizing the powers from both external battery 7 and internal battery 25. If each of the external battery 7 and the internal battery 25 has a capacity for continuous use for 2 hours, this embodiment allows the personal computer 24 to be continuously used for 4 hours, which is the sum of the capacities of the batteries 7 and 25. In a general notebook type personal computer, if it is usable for 4 consecutive hours, there is almost no trouble in ordinary use. If the external battery 7 and the adapter 9 for an external battery are carried together with the personal computer 24, sufficiently continuous use of the personal computer 24 is possible without charging. As described above, according to the present invention, since each member is connected by the DC cable 32 which has connectors 31 at the respective ends, the system is simplified. If the internal battery 25 is removed while a power is supplied from the external battery 7, since the power from the external battery 7 is supplied to the personal computer 24, the data in load 26 such as an RAM or the like are not lost. It is therefore possible to change the internal batteries 25 without the need for the backing-up operation. If a plurality of batteries are carried and the internal batteries 25 are exchanged while the external battery 7 is connected to the personal computer 24, it is possible to further prolong the time enabling the continuous use of the computer 24. It is also possible to alleviate the trouble at the time of exchanging the deteriorated internal battery. In this embodiment, the charger 13 switches between the adapter mode and the charging mode in accordance with the detection signal from the personal computer 24 in the mode A. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a manual switch for switching modes in the charger 13. In this case, the number of terminals at both ends of the connectors may be reduced to 3, and a 3-pin DC cable may be used. As described above, according to an adapter for an external battery and a battery system of the present invention, it is possible both to charge an external battery and to supply a power from the external battery by utilizing one adapter for an external battery, so that efficient use of the external battery is enabled. It is also possible without increasing the weight of the personal computer to prolong the time enabling the continuous use of the computer without charging. An adapter for selectively connecting an external battery which is used as a power source of a portable notebook type computer to the computer or a charger, and an external battery system for controlling the connection between the adapter, the computer and the charger. The external battery is connectable to the adapter, and the adapter is connected to either the charger or the computer. A diode for selectively regulating either the direction for charging the external battery or the direction for introducing the power from the external battery is provided within the adapter. The adapter, the charger and the computer are selectively connected with each other by a common cable. There are three typical connection modes. In the mode A, the charger supplies a power to the computer. If the computer is being operated, the charger directly supplies a power of a constant voltage to the group of devices in the computer. If the computer is in an inoperative state, the charger supplies a power of a constant current for charging the internal battery. In the mode B, the charger charges the external battery through the adapter and outputs a power of a constant current. In the mode C, the power from the external battery is supplied to the computer through the adapter. The external battery is connected to the group of devices in parallel with the internal battery. Both batteries are operated in cooperation with each other. After the external battery is connected to the computer, the computer keeps on operating even if the internal battery is removed. Thus, it is unnecessary to back up the data in the computer.

Claims: An adapter (9) for a chargeable external battery for selectively connecting said chargeable external battery (7) to a computer (24) or a charger (13), said adapter comprising: A) a battery connector (8) for connecting said adapter to said chargeable external battery, said battery connector having first (8a) and second terminals (8b); B) an external device connector (10) including a through terminal (10c) which is connected to said second terminal (8b) of said battery connector, a power output terminal (10a) for outputting the power from said external battery, and a power input terminal (10b) for receiving a current for charging said external battery; C) a first diode (11) constituting a current path between said power output terminal and said first terminal of said battery connector so as to supply the current from said external battery only to said power output terminal; and D) a second diode (12) provided between said power input terminal and said firsts terminal of said battery connector so as to supply the current from said power input terminal only to said external battery. An adapter for a chargeable external battery according to Claim 1, wherein said external device connector has a terminal structure for receiving a cable (32) which connects said adapter to said computer or said charger. A battery system comprising: a chargeable external battery (7); an adapter (9) accoding to claim 1 for said external battery for supplying a charging current to said external battery and outputting the current from said external battery; a computer (24) including a chargeable internal battery (25) removably installed therewithin and a load (26) for conducting various operations; and an AC/DC adapter (13a) including a power output terminal for supplying a charging current in accordance with the power from an AC power source; said computer including a first power input terminal (27a) for receiving a power to be supplied to said load; a second power input terminal (27b) for receiving a current for charging said internal battery; and a first diode (29) disposed in a current path for supplying the current from said internal battery to said load so as to check a reverse flow; said power output terminal of said adapter for said external battery being connected to said first power input terminal of said computer so as to enable a power to be supplied from said external battery to said computer; and said power input terminal of said adapter for said external battery being connected to a second power output terminal (23b) of a charger so as to enable the external battery to be charged. A battery system according to Claim 3, wherein said adapter and said charger or said computer is connected to each other by a common cable (32). A battery system according to Claim 4, wherein said common cable is composed of a four-terminal cable including two power terminals (1, 2), a grounding terminal (3) and a computer power ON/OFF detection signal terminal (4). A battery system according to one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein said charger includes a first power output terminal for outputting a power having a constant voltage, said second power output terminal for outputting a power having a constant current and a switch (20) for changing from one power output terminal to the other. A battery system according to Claim 6, wherein said charger includes a terminal (23d) for receiving a computer power ON/OFF detection signal, and a controller (22) for switching the connection of said switch from said first power output terminal for outputting a power having a constant voltage to said second power output terminal for outputting a power having a constant current, or vice versa in accordance with said detection signal supplied from said terminal for receiving said computer power ON/OFF detection signal and on the basis of the operating state of said computer. A battery system according to Claim 7, wherein said terminal for receiving said computer power ON/OFF detection signal of said charger is connected to a pull-up resistor (21) with one end thereof connected to a power source, and said controller constantly switches the connection of said switch to said second power output terminal for outputting a power having a constant current when said terminal for receiving a computer power ON/OFF detection signal terminal is open. A battery system according to one of Claims 3 to 8, wherein said charger includes said AC/DC adapter for converting the main power source to a DC voltage, a charge controller (13b) for converting the DC voltage to a constant voltage output or a constant current output, and a connector (23) which is capable of connecting said charger to an external cable for supplying these outputs to an external device. A battery system according to Claim 9, wherein said AC/DC adapter includes a switching transistor (17) which is connected to the primary coil of a voltage-drop transformer (16) so as to adjust the power in accordance with an ON/OFF duty ratio of said switching transistor. A battery system according to Claim 10, wherein said charge controller includes a controller (22) for controlling said switching transistor in accordance with said computer power ON/OFF detection signal. A battery system according to one of Claims 3 to 11, wherein the computer includes: said first power input terminal for supplying the power having a constant voltage and supplied from said charger or said adapter to the group of devices provided within the machine; said second power input terminal for supplying the power having a constant current and supplied from said charger to said internal battery; a grounding terminal (27c); and an output terminal (27d) for outputting the operating state of the device provided in the computer; this group of terminals being connectable to a common cable (32). A battery system according to Claim 12, wherein a second diode for checking a reverse current is provided in a current path between said second power input terminal and said internal battery.

Inventors: SAKAMOTO KENJI, SAKAMOTO, KENJI
Applicants: SANYO ELECTRIC CO, SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LIMITED.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: G06F1
IPC codes: H02J7, G06F1