Abstract:
The present invention relates to a portable computer having a power supply in the form of a battery pack, the battery pack being both electrically and physically separable from the portable computer. The portable computer has a power management system capable of decreasing power consumption by differentially supplying power according to power management mode, including a base having internally a storage member and provided with at least one opening at one side of the base, a battery pack coupled to the base to supply a power and having at least one lug inserted into the at least one opening, at least one lever coupled to the base and combined or separated with the at least one lug, a switch provided in the base, wherein the switch generates a signal of operating the power management system when the at least one lever is separated from the at least one lug.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application for Portable Computer Having Power Supply System Performed By Detachment of Battery Pack earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on the Nov. 30, 1998 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 51980/1998. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a portable, battery-operated computer and, more particularly to a portable computer having a power supply system performed by detachment of battery pack. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Small, hand-held, battery-operated personal computers have become well known in a variety of applications, particularly in the area of palmtop-type computers also commonly termed personal digital assistants. One example of such a personal digital assistant (PDA), is the popular NEWTON PDA, models 100, 110, and 120, manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif. (referred to herein as the NEWTON). Briefly, the NEWTON PDA is a hand-held, battery-operated electronic device which is capable of being programmed to receive input data, by means of contacting the screen with an electronic pointer or stylus, i.e. PEN based. The screen of the NEWTON PDA is contact sensitive, such that the stylus may be used to create drawings on the screen, enter handwritten notes, or the like, all of which may be stored in the PDA memory for eventual recall. Further, application software may be executed by the PDA, by entering commands, or invoking application sub-functions, through contacting the PDA screen by the stylus or pen, in designated locations defined by the application. 
     As with other personal digital assistants, application programs are loaded into the NEWTON by means of a PCMCIA compatible application/memory card, into which the application instruction steps have been coded. Changing an application, is, thus, as simple as removing one PCMCIA card and replacing it with another. 
     In such a portable computer, a battery pack is provided in the portable computer to supply power without the use of a wire. Generally the power available from batteries is only sufficient to allow operation of the portable computer for a continuous use period of less than about two hours. The battery pack is capable of being attached or detached from a rear side of the portable computer. In such a power supply system that depends on power from the battery pack, a sudden detachment of battery pack from the portable computer may bring about serious damage such as: 1) loss of data, and 2) an occurrence of a system error. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,728 for a Dynamic Hibernation Time In A Computer System to Hallowell et al discusses storing hibernation files in a hard disk when a battery pack operated portable computer enters a suspend mode before power interruption. Hallowell et al mentions in the Background of the Invention section that the Intel 486 SL will save data to a hard disk when entering suspend mode, the suspend mode triggered by a period of inactivity of the computer. Hallowell et al seeks to improve upon the Intel 486 SL by saving a hibernation file into a hard disk when the battery capacity drops below a predetermined threshold indicating that exhaustion of battery power is forthcoming. Nevertheless, Hallowell does not discuss storing system data onto a hard disk drive upon detachment of a battery pack from a portable computer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable computer capable of preventing 1) losses of data and 2) the occurrence of a system error when the battery pack is detached from the portable computer. 
     It is further an object to place the portable computer in a suspend mode where system data can be stored to a non-volatile memory before power is entirely shut off to the portable computer upon removal of a battery pack from the portable computer. 
     It is further an object to provide a technique for removing a battery pack from a portable computer whereby mechanical levers on the portable computer are moved between an open and a closed position, causing both an electrical switch to temporarily place the portable computer in a suspend mode allowing for storage of system data into a non-volatile memory and a mechanical separation of the battery pack from the portable computer. 
     In order to attain the above objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable computer having a power management system capable of decreasing power consumption by differentially supplying power according to power management mode, including a base having internally a storage means and at least one opening; a battery pack coupled to the base to supply power and having at least one lug inserted into the at least one opening; at least one lever coupled to the base and latching the at least one lug; a switch disposed on the base, wherein the switch generates a signal of operating the power management system when the at least one lever is separated from the at least one lug. 
     In the present portable computer, wherein operating of the power management system means that the system data are stored in the storage means, then all power supplied in the portable computer is interrupted, wherein the storage means is a non-volatile memory. 
     According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a portable computer having a power management system capable of decreasing power consumption by differentially supplying power according to power management mode, including a base provided with a first opening and a second opening and having an internal non-volatile memory; a battery pack coupled to the base to supply a power and having a first lug inserted into the first opening and a second lug inserted into the second opening; a first lever coupled to the base and latching the first lug inserted into the first opening; a second lever coupled to the base and latching the second lug inserted into the second opening; and a switch provided in the base, wherein the switch generates a signal to operate the power management system by a contact of at least one of said first lever and said second lever when one or both of said levers are separated from their respective lugs, wherein the signal indicates that the system data is stored in the non-volatile memory, then all power supplied in the portable computer is interrupted, whereby the system data is stored in the non-volatile memory and all power is completely turned off when the battery pack is detached from the base. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of this invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 a  is a table for illustrating various kind of power management modes in a portable computer; 
     FIG. 1 b  is a flow chart for understanding the general booting process; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a battery pack and the bottom view of a portable computer when the battery pack is detached from the portable computer according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a base of a portable computer including a lower housing and a upper housing and a printed circuit board; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a base of a portable computer wherein the printed circuit board is stored in the lower housing; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention showing how to control a system in such a case of detaching the battery pack from the portable computer; and 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart for illustrating how to control a system in such a case of detaching the battery pack from the portable computer according to the principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 a  is a table for illustrating various kind of power management modes in a portable computer. Referring to FIG. 1 a , a general portable computer has various power management modes such as full on mode, idle mode, standby mode, suspend mode and system off. The state of ordinary operation is the full on mode and when no command is inputted for a first predetermined interval of time, power management mode is changed into the idle mode. At the idle mode, the speed of CPU clock is decreased. When no command is inputted for a second predetermined interval of time at the idle mode, the power management mode is changed into the standby mode. At the standby mode, the speed of CPU clock is more decreased and a video signal transmitted to a display device is interrupted and a power transmitted to the display device is interrupted. Nevertheless, if any external command is inputted at the standby mode, the power management mode is changed into the full on mode. Furthermore, the power management mode is changed into the suspend mode if no external command is inputted for a third predetermined interval of time. At the suspend mode, all information of system data are stored in a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk or flash memory, then all power supplying the portable computer is turned off, with the exception of power being continuously supplied to PMS (power management system) which functions the power management. At the suspend mode, the user of the portable computer will have to operate a power switch to alert the power management system to bring the portable computer into the full on mode. The resume operation is executed by the operation of the power switch while in the suspend mode. If the resume operation is executed, all stored information of system data and surroundings of the system are restored to the original state. Compared to the suspend mode, the power switch is operated at the system off mode, a general booting is executed without the resume operation. 
     A suspend check shown in the flow chart of FIG. 1 b  determines whether the power mode of the computer is in suspend mode or not before power is cut off. If the suspend check is conducted, resume operation is performed and if suspend check is not conducted, general booting is performed. Therefore, resume and booting are not able to occur at the same time. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a battery pack along side a bottom view of the portable computer when the battery pack is detached from the portable computer according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a base  20  of a portable computer  10  having a lower housing  30 , an upper housing  60 , and a printed circuit board  70  and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a base of a portable computer wherein the printed circuit board  70  is inserted into lower housing  30 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2 through 4, the portable computer  10  according to the present invention includes a lower housing  30 , an upper housing  60 , a circuit board  70  and display panel  90 . As shown in FIG. 3, the lower housing  30  is coupled to the upper housing  60  to form the internal space. The circuit board  70  or the other electric device is disposed between the lower housing  30  and the upper housing  60 . A total portion comprising the lower housing  30  and the upper housing  60  is called a base  20  (referring to FIG. 2) of the portable computer  10 . The display panel  90  is attached pivotally to the base  20  via the hinge portion (not shown). The display panel  90  incorporates the display screen such as LCD (liquid crystal display). 
     The present inventive embodiment of portable computer  10  is designed to use the battery pack  100  to supply power to portable computer  10 . The battery pack may be a rechargeable battery or a battery type using the ordinary battery. The battery pack  100  coupled to the base  20  includes an electrical connector  102  and lugs  104 ,  106  shown in FIG.  2 . The electrical connector  102  is coupled to electrical connector  72  of the circuit board  70 . Two holes  40 ,  42  are formed at the rear side of the lower housing  30 , and two holes  62 ,  64  are formed at the rear side of the upper housing  60  corresponding to holes  40 ,  42 . When the upper housing  60  and the lower housing  30  is combined, two openings are formed by holes  40 ,  42 ,  62 ,  64 . A first opening is formed by hole  40  mating with hole  62  and a second opening is formed by hole  42  mating with hole  64 . The battery pack  100  is coupled to the base  20 , and the lug  104  is inserted into the first opening formed by holes  40 ,  62  and the lug  106  is inserted into the second opening formed by holes  42 ,  64 . 
     Two openings  48 , 50  is formed on a bottom surface of the lower housing  30  to couple to two levers  80 ,  82 . The first lever  80  is coupled to the opening  48 , and the second lever  82  is coupled to the opening  50 . Each of the first lever  80  and the second lever  82  has a hook  81 , which is capable of moving horizontally within the opening. On the bottom surface of the lower housing  30 , ribs  44 ,  46  are formed and ribs  66 ,  68  are formed on the surface of the upper housing  60  corresponding to the ribs  44 ,  46 . 
     The battery pack  100  is coupled to the base  20 , then the lugs  104 ,  106  are inserted into the opening and locked by levers  80 ,  82 . For example, the lug  106  is inserted into the opening formed by the holes  42 ,  64 , then the lug  106  is locked by the second lever  82 . 
     A switch  74  is disposed at the circuit board  70 . In one embodiment, switch  74  is contacted with the first lever  80  when the first lever  80  is moved at one horizontal direction to detach the battery pack  100  from the base  20 . The contacted switch  74  produces a signal which executes the function of the suspend mode. In the present inventive embodiment, when the battery pack  100  is detached from the combination of the upper and lower housing, the power management system of the portable computer  10  is operated to save the system data in non-volatile memory of the storage device, and then interrupt the power of the system device. After these operations, the battery pack  100  is detached from the portable computer  10 . 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating how to control a system in such a case of detaching the battery pack from the portable computer according to the present invention and FIG. 6 is a flowchart for illustrating how to control a system in such a case of detaching the battery pack from the portable computer according to the present invention. 
     Referring to FIG.  5  and FIG. 6, the present inventive portable computer  10  executes the power management as the suspend mode when the battery pack  100  is detached from the combination of the lower and upper housing. The portable computer  10  has PMS (power management system)  150  and SMPS (switching mode power supply)  152 . The SMPS  152  supplies power to the individual system to operate the power management system  150 , and the PMS  150  controls the SMPS  152 . When power is supplied from an AC adapter or a battery to SMPS  152 , SMPS  152  sends out a signal to PMS  150  indicating a status that power is sufficient. The SMPS  152  then receives a signal from PMS  150  and supplies power to computer functional circuit  160 , RAM  170 , and non-volatile memory  180 . Computer functional circuit  160  is connected to SMPS  152  and is a general circuit element of the computer, for example, a central processing unit. 
     The suspend mode is executed by two steps: 1) all information of system such as system data and setting state of system is stored in volatile RAM memory  170 , and 2) system data stored at the memory  170  written into storage device  180  being a non-volatile memory such as hard disk or flash memory. To detach the battery pack  100 , the first lever  80  and the second lever  82  are moved to the open position (S 200 ). According to the first embodiment, during the moving of the first lever  80  from the closed position ‘A’ to the to the open position ‘B’, the first lever  80  contacts and activates switch  74  (S 210 ). The contacted switch  74  generates a signal to be transmitted the PMS  150 . Then the PMS  150  controls the SMPS  152  to execute the suspend mode (S 220 ). The suspend mode is executed and system data is stored in memory  170  and then stored into non-volatile memory  180  before power to the system is interrupted. When data is finally stored in non-volatile memory  180 , PMS  150  receives a responsive signal, and PMS  150  sends a signal to SMPS  152  where SMPS  152  in turn stops supplying power to RAM  170 , non-volatile memory  180 , and computer functional circuit  160 . Then, the battery pack may be detached (S 230 ). 
     Other embodiments to the present invention include a switch  75  that contacts lever  82  when lever  82  is moved from the closed position ‘C’ to the open position ‘D’, switch  75  is activated and generates a signal that is sent to the PMS  150  to control the SMPS  152  to initiate suspend mode. Also, when lever  80  is moved from the closed position ‘A’ to the open position ‘B’ simultaneously with the movement of lever  82 , battery  100  can then be electrically and physically detached from personal computer  10  as lugs  104 ,  106  are removed from first opening and second opening of portable computer  10  formed by holes  40 , 62  and  42 ,  64 , respectively, and electrical connector  102  of battery  100  is detached from electrical connector  72  of printed circuit board  70  of portable computer  10 . 
     In yet another embodiment, a signal is sent to PMS  150  to control SMPS  152  to execute suspend mode only when both switches  74  and  75  are activated by moving both levers  80  and  82  simultaneously from position ‘A’ to ‘B’ and from position ‘C’ to ‘D’ respectively. In either case, the SMPS provides the power during battery  100  detachment to store system data into volatileRAM  170  and then into non-volatile memory  180  before interruption of total system power supply. 
     In the accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, the portable computer is possible to preventing losses of system data and system error when the battery pack is detached from the portable computer. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made in the method for improving printing quality of the present invention, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications as well as variations thereof, within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.