Abstract:
A notebook type personal computer has a common connector detachably connected to a mating connector of a connection unit, or replicator, which further has plural connectors affording detachable connections to plural peripheral units. One or more fastener units, carried by the connector unit, provide for detachably but rigidly affixing the connector unit to the notebook type personal computer. An alternative connector box accommodates one or more batteries while affording connections through the common connector and the plural first connectors to peripheral units and yet another alternative connector box houses only batteries and is connectable through a mating connector to the common connector of the personal computer to afford extended operating time.

Description:
[0001]    The subject application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/879,115 filed Jun. 13, 2001, now pending; which, in turn, is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/885,857 filed Jun. 30, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,503 issued Jun. 25, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a portable-type information apparatus such as a notebook-type personal computer or a word processor, particularly to a portable-type information apparatus which is largely improved in extendability and portability.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Recently, miniaturization of portable-type information apparatuses such as notebook-type personal computers has been significantly accelerated due to the rapid progress of electronic technology, whereby the user can always carry the information apparatus with him even outside the office.  
           [0006]    Information apparatuses, particularly notebook type personal computers, have often been provided with various connectors for the connection of external keyboards, mice, external CRTs, printers or others, for extending the functions thereof.  
           [0007]    Since recently marketed notebook-type personal computers have already been miniaturized in size and weight to a large extent, it is difficult to further improve the portability without sacrificing the extendability.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a reasonable and economical information apparatus of a portable type improved in operability and portability without deteriorating the extendability, based on a novel technical idea.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a portable-type information apparatus having an information apparatus body comprises a detachable connector unit provided with a plurality of connectors adapted to be detachably connected to peripheral units and with at least one connector adapted to be detachably connected to the information apparatus body; connection means provided on the information apparatus body, for the connection between the connector unit and the information apparatus body; and a detachable battery unit containing at least one battery and having substantially the same size as that of the connector unit; and wherein the battery unit and the connector unit can alternatively be connected to the information apparatus in substantially the same connecting position relative to the information apparatus body.  
           [0010]    Preferably the battery unit is connected to the information apparatus body through the connection means. Also, preferably, coupling means are provided to transmit electrical power from the battery unit to the information apparatus body. Preferably, at least one fastener unit is mounted between the information apparatus body and the connector unit affording mechanical detachable fixation therebetween. Also, preferably, the connector unit is mechanically detachably fixed to the information apparatus body through said at least one fastener unit. Preferably, the connector unit and the battery unit are alternatively detachably fixed to the back side of the information apparatus body.  
           [0011]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a portable-type information apparatus having an information apparatus body comprises a detachable connector unit provided with a plurality of connectors adapted to be detachably connected to peripheral units and with at least one connector adapted to be detachably connected to the information apparatus body connection means provided on the information apparatus body, for the connection between the connector unit and the information apparatus body; and a detachable battery unit containing at least one battery and having substantially the same size as that of the connector unit, said battery unit being connectable to the information apparatus body through the connection means.  
           [0012]    Preferably, coupling means is provided to transmit electrical power from the battery unit to the information apparatus body. Also, preferably, at least one fastener unit is mounted between the information apparatus body and the connector unit for a mechanical detachable fixation therebetween. Preferably, the connector unit is mechanically detachably fixed to the information apparatus body through said at least one faster. Also, preferably, the connector unit and the battery unit are alternatively detachably fixed to the back side of the information apparatus body.  
           [0013]    According to further aspect of the invention, a connector unit adapted to be detachably connected to a portable-type information apparatus having an information apparatus body comprises a plurality of connectors adapted to be detachably connected to peripheral units; at least one connector adapted to be detachably connected to the information apparatus body; and at least one battery enclosed therein to supply electrical power to the information apparatus body.  
           [0014]    Preferably, connection means are provided for the connection between the connector unit and the information apparatus body and wherein coupling means is provided to supply electrical power from said at least one battery to the information apparatus. Also, preferably, at least one fastener unit is provided between the information apparatus body and the connector unit for a mechanical detachable fixation therebetween. Preferably, it is detachably fixed to the back side of the information apparatus body. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0016]    In the drawings:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a notebook type personal computer according to one embodiment of the present invention, in an open state;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2A is a perspective view as seen from a front side, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view as seen from a rear side, of the comparator of FIG. 1, illustrating the relationship of a connector box relative to the personal computer;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3A is a rear view, FIG. 3B is a top view, FIG. 3C is a front view and FIG. 3D is a leftside view, of the connector box;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of a fastener;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a plan view of a connector box accommodating batteries therein;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a plan view of a battery pack.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a notebook-type personal computer  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention. With reference to this drawing, the personal computer  1  consists of a lower housing  5  which is built in a main circuit board carrying a CPU or other components, and having a keyboard  3  on the upper surface thereof, and an upper housing  9  coupled, in a hinged manner, to an edge portion (innermost side) of the lower housing  5  and having a liquid crystal display  7  in a central area thereof. The upper housing  9  is folded onto the lower housing  5  to form an integral case convenient for transportation.  
         [0025]    On the operator&#39;s side relative to the keyboard  3  extending in the central area of the upper surface of the lower housing  5 , there is provided a palm rest section  11  wherein a pointing device  13  of a ball type is provided at a center thereof.  
         [0026]    A hinge section  15  is provided along the innermost edge of the lower housing  5 , farthest from the operator&#39;s side beyond the keyboard  3 , for coupling to the upper housing  9  while leaving an upper surface vacant space  17  of about 20 mm wide between the hinge section  15  and the keyboard  3 .  
         [0027]    In a central region of the upper surface vacant area  17 , a suspend/resume key  21  is provided. The suspend/resume key  21  has a function of interrupting the supply of electric power to electronic parts, including CPU and those relating to the output/input, except for memories, so that the power consumption in the personal computer is restricted (i.e., limited) to a lower level than a normal operating power consumption level.  
         [0028]    The liquid crystal display  7 , of a rectangular shape and large size is provided in a central area of the display surface of the upper housing  9 . Generally in a lower area of the upper housing beneath the liquid crystal display  7 , a so-called state-displaying section  31  is provided in a central region which confronts the suspend/resume key  21  of the lower housing  5  when the upper housing  9  is closed (folded) to the lower housing  5 . A sound output section  33  having a number of small apertures is provided on both sides of the state-displaying section  31 .  
         [0029]    The state-displaying section  31  has a function of visually displaying whether or not a predetermined electronic device, internal or external to the personal computer is operative or inoperative, and basically consists of an elongated liquid crystal substrate  35 .  
         [0030]    The rear surface of the lower housing  5 , has none of the various connectors for connection to external keyboards, mice, external CRTs or printers which usually are provided in the conventional notebook type personal computer, and, instead, a specially designed common connector  51  which is a combination of the above-mentioned connectors as a single unit is provided. Therefore, a space in the lower housing which would be occupied by these connectors in the conventional computer is unnecessary, and thus, miniaturization of the personal computer is possible. Further, two or more common connectors (not shown) may be provided.  
         [0031]    As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the common connector  51  on the rear surface of the lower housing  5  (of the personal computer  1 ) is adapted to be detachably connected to a connector section  55  provided on a rectangular front surface of a connector box  53  (which is also called a port replicator) so that the connector box  53  is detachably mounted to the rear surface of the lower housing  5 .  
         [0032]    As shown in FIG. 3A, the connector box  53  is provided with various connectors CN on the rear surface thereof, which would be carried on the conventional personal computer.  
         [0033]    The connector section  55  on the front surface of the connector box  53  consists of a terminal having 60 pins and a pair of guide pins  57  on both sides thereof for facilitating the connector engagement. The guide pins  57  are engageable with corresponding guide holes (not shown) provided at corresponding positions in the lower housing and also function as grounding connectors.  
         [0034]    On both sides of a front wall of the connector box  53  are provided a pair of fasteners  61  for reliably fixing the connector box  53  to the rear surface of the lower housing  5 .  
         [0035]    As shown in FIG. 4, the fastener  61  basically consists of a threaded rod  63  so as having a thread at a tip  30  end, a main body  65  accommodating the threaded rod  63  so as to be movable in the axial direction and coupled to the threaded rod  63  to be rotatable therewith, and a compression coil spring  67  mounted within the main body  65  for biasing the threaded rod  63  outwardly. An enlarged disk  69  having a knurled periphery is provided in the main body  65 .  
         [0036]    When the fasteners  61  are attached to a predetermined position on the opposite sides of the connector box  53 , the thread of the threaded rod  63  partially projects outwardly from the front surface of the connector box  53 , and the enlarged disk  69  partially projects outwardly from a rectangular window  73  formed in a recess  71  of the respective end wall of the connector box  53  (see FIGS. 3B, 3D). Since this projected amount is actually very small, the knurled periphery looks as if it is substantially flush with the end surface of connector box  53 .  
         [0037]    During the attachment of the connector box  53  to the personal computer  1  (i.e., to the lower housing  5 ), the connector section  55 , provided on the front surface of the connector box  53 , is engaged with the common connector  51  on the rear surface of the personal computer  1  so that the rear surface of the personal computer  1  and the front surface of the connector box  53  are wholly or substantially brought into surface-contact with each other. At this time, the threaded rods  63  projected from the respective sides of the front surface of the connector box  53  just confront female thread sections (fastening sections)  77  (see FIG. 2B) provided at corresponding positions on the rear surface of the personal computer  1 . More specifically, the thread section of the threaded rod  63  is pushed into the main body  65  against a biasing force of the compression coil spring  67  in the main body  65  of the fastener  61 , while being fittingly in contact with the female thread section  77  (that is, while maintaining a state to be easily engageable with the female thread  30  section  77 ).  
         [0038]    Then, the operator manually rotates the enlarged disk  69 , using the knurled periphery thereof, through the window  73  of the recess  71  provided on the respective end surface of the connector box  53 , in a required direction (selected in accordance with the thread direction), whereby the threaded rod  63  rotates therewith to completely screw the threaded rod  63  (thread section) into the female thread section  77 .  
         [0039]    As described above, since the fastener structure is adapted so that the movable threaded rod  63  is biased outwardly and rotated by the operation of the enlarged disk  69 , the fastening operation of the fastener  61  is carried out very easily in a mechanical manner. Similarly, the removal of the connector box  53  is also facilitated.  
         [0040]    According to this embodiment of the above structure, since various connectors usually provided in the conventional personal computer are removed, it is possible to miniaturize an outer size of the personal computer, whereby the portability thereof is greatly enhanced. Instead of the removed connectors, a connector box  53  is prepared, which is capable of being electrically coupled in a very simple manner to the personal computer by a single engagement connection (between the common connector and the connector section  55 ). Also, according to the characteristic structure of the fastener  61  provided on the respective side of the connector box  53 , mounting/dismounting of the connector box  63  can be safely and reliably carried out. Thus, there is no inconvenience in the utility and operability of electric wiring or arrangement.  
         [0041]    Another type connector box  83  may be provided as shown in FIG. 5, wherein cylindrical rechargeable batteries B for the extension are longitudinally accommodated in a central space of the interior of the connector box. On the other hand, power supply lines are provided both in the common connector of the information apparatus body and the connector section  55  of the connector box  83 . The arrangement of the various connectors CN, common connector, fastener or others are basically the same as those in the above connector box  53 , and therefore the explanation thereof will be eliminated herein.  
         [0042]    According to the above connector box  83  with batteries, the operative time of the personal computer can be prolonged (for example, by about 1.5 hours if three batteries B are accommodated) to facilitate both the portability and the extendability.  
         [0043]    In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, a so-called  5  (extension) battery pack  93  may be provided alternative to the connector boxes  53  and  83  described above, which has generally the same profile and size as those of the connector box  53 , but has none of the various connectors CN as are provided on the rear surface of the connector box  53  in FIG. 5. Instead of the various connectors, batteries B are accommodated in the interior thereof.  
         [0044]    When the battery pack  93  is used, although the function-expendability inherent to a connector box is lost, the operative time of the personal computer is greatly prolonged (for example, by about 3 hours if six batteries are accommodated), which facilitates the portability of the personal computer  1 .  
         [0045]    Since the battery pack has substantially the same profile and size as the connector boxes  53 ,  83 , it is favorable in appearance and convenient in storage.  
         [0046]    The connector box  53 , the connector box  83  with batteries and the battery pack  93  can be alternatively mounted to the personal computer  1 , which provides various systems constructed by the personal computer and peripheral devices thereof, and widens the user&#39;s choice.  
         [0047]    While the above-mentioned embodiments are limited to the application of the present invention to a personal computer, the present invention should not be limited thereto but may be effectively applicable also to other portable-type electronic apparatuses such as a word processor.  
         [0048]    As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a very reasonable and economical portable type information which is improved in operability and portability without deteriorating the extendability More specifically, according to the portable type information apparatus since a plurality of connectors of various kinds for the extension are removed, the apparatus can be miniaturized in size and reduced in weight. In spite of the removal of such connectors, the extendability is not deteriorated because of the provision of a common connector for coupling a connector box to the personal computer. If a fastening section is provided, the rigid fixation of the connector box becomes possible to enhance the stability and the mechanical strength. If a connector section of a connector box with batteries is coupled to the common connector, the operative time can be prolonged without deteriorating the extendability. If a battery pack is used, the operative time can be further prolonged. If the portable information apparatus is a notebook-type personal computer, the improvement in extendability and operative time enhances the utility of the personal computer.  
         [0049]    Also, the connector box according to the present invention is easily handled and can be mounted to the portable type information apparatus in a simple manner, resulting in an improvement in extendability of the portable-type information apparatus and a reduction in the weight thereof. If a fastener is provided, the connector box can be rigidly fixed to result in favorable stability and mechanical strength. If a battery is provided, it is possible to prolong the operating time without deteriorating the extendability.  
         [0050]    Further, according to a battery pack of the present invention, a further prolongation of operating time of the portable type information apparatus is available. Since the battery pack is mounted to the portable type information apparatus alternatively to the connector box, various options can be adopted in accordance with the desired uses.  
         [0051]    It is to be understood that the invention is by no means limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein, and that various modifications thereof may be made which come within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.