Abstract:
According to one embodiment, configured to be charged by a charger, an electronic apparatus comprises a first housing, a display device, a power reception unit and a second housing. Arranged in the first housing, the display device comprises a display screen. The power reception unit is arranged at the first housing in a position overlapping the display device on a side opposite to the display screen and in a position eccentric from a center of the display device, and configured to receive an electricity transmitted from a power transmission unit of the charger with the first housing standing on an exterior setting surface. The second housing is configured to support the first housing with standing on the exterior setting surface, and an input device on the second housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/968,137, filed Dec. 14, 2010, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-035032, filed Feb. 19, 2010; the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments described herein relate generally to a non-contact charger for charging an electronic apparatus with electricity, an electronic apparatus chargeable by the charger, and a storage case for accommodating the charger and electronic apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Presently, rechargeable batteries, such as nickel-hydrogen and lithium-ion batteries, are the main energy sources for portable electronic apparatuses, such as notebook PCs, mobile terminals, gaming devices, PDAs, etc. A novel charger for charging the rechargeable batteries of these electronic apparatuses has recently been proposed in which energy is transmitted in a non-contact manner (e.g., Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2006-320047). This charger generates electricity by supplying fuel from a fuel cartridge to a fuel cell and transmits the generated electricity to a mobile device by means of a transmission coil. 
         [0004]    Air needs to be supplied in generating electricity by a fuel cell, and water vapor and carbon dioxide are discharged as the electricity is generated. The above-described charger cannot overcome the inherent problems of a fuel battery, including such air supply and discharging of water vapor and carbon dioxide. Thus, the air supply may be insufficient or the discharged water vapor and carbon dioxide may affect the performance of the electronic apparatuses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    A general architecture that implements the various feature of the embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate the embodiments and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary perspective view, partially in section, of a non-contact charger according to an embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary side view showing the charger and a notebook PC to be charged by the charger; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary perspective view showing the notebook PC; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary front view showing a storage case according to the embodiment for accommodating the charger and notebook PC; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the storage case taken along line V-V of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Various embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0012]    In general, according to one embodiment, a charger comprises a fuel cell configured to generate electricity; an intake/exhaust unit configured to supply air to the fuel cell and discharge an emission from the fuel cell; a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to the fuel cell; and a power transmission unit configured to transmit the electricity generated in the fuel cell in a non-contact manner. The power transmission unit and the intake/exhaust unit are oriented in different directions. 
         [0013]    A charger, electronic apparatus, and storage case according to an embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a non-contact charger  10  using a fuel battery comprises a housing  12  in the form of, for example, a rectangular box. The charger  10  further comprises a fuel tank  14  in which fuel is stored, fuel cell module  16  configured to generate electricity, secondary battery  18 , power transmission unit  20 , and power circuit  22 , which are arranged in the housing  12 . 
         [0015]    The fuel cell module  16  is constructed as, for example, a passive DMFC. A plurality of single cells constitute the cell module  16 . Each of the single cells comprises a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which integrally comprises a cathode (air electrode), anode (fuel electrode), and polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the cathode and anode. The fuel and air supplied to each single cell electrochemically react with each other in the electrolyte membrane between the anode and cathode, thereby generating electricity between the anode and cathode. With the progress of the electrochemical reaction, carbon dioxide and water vapor are produced as reaction by-products on the anode and cathode sides, respectively, of the single cell. 
         [0016]    The charger  10  comprises an intake/exhaust unit  24 . The intake/exhaust unit  24  takes in and supplies external air for electricity generation to the fuel cell module  16 , and also externally discharges the water vapor and carbon dioxide (in the case of the DMFC) produced by the electricity generation in the cell module  16 . The intake/exhaust unit  24  is exposed in and opposed to one principal surface  12   a  of the housing  12 . 
         [0017]    The power transmission unit  20  comprises, for example, a power transmission coil (a primary-side coil, not shown), which is exposed in and opposed to one surface of the housing  12 . Specifically, the power transmission unit  20  is provided on the a surface different from the principal surface  12   a  on which the intake/exhaust unit  24  is disposed, that is, on a principal surface  12   b  opposite the principal surface  12   a.  Thus, the intake/exhaust unit  24  and power transmission unit  20  are oriented back to back or oppositely. 
         [0018]    The fuel tank  14  is connected to the fuel cell module  16  and supplies fuel, e.g., an aqueous methanol solution, to the cell module  16 . The fuel tank  14  may be constructed as a cartridge removably attached to the housing  12 . Within the housing  12 , the fuel tank  14  is located vertically above the intake/exhaust unit  24  and power transmission unit  20 . 
         [0019]    The fuel cell module  16 , secondary battery  18 , and power transmission unit  20  are electrically connected to the power circuit  22 , which controls the electricity generation in the cell module  16 , power transmission, and charging/discharging of the secondary battery. The secondary battery  18  is used to compensate for deficiency of electricity generated in the cell module  16  caused if the transmitted power suddenly changes. 
         [0020]    DC power generated in the fuel cell module  16  is converted to AC power by the power circuit  22  and delivered to the power transmission unit  20 . The AC power is wirelessly transmitted to an apparatus to be charged by the power transmission coil of the power transmission unit  20 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show a notebook computer (notebook PC)  30  according to the embodiment as the electronic apparatus to be charged by the charger  10 . The notebook PC  30  comprises an apparatus main body  32  and a display unit  33  supported by the main body  32 . The main body  32  comprises a flat rectangular housing  34  of, for example, a synthetic resin. 
         [0022]    A palm-rest portion  36  is formed on the upper surface of the housing  34 , and a touchpad  35  and click button  37  are arranged substantially on the center of the palm-rest portion. A plurality of LEDs  38  indicative of operation modes of the notebook PC  30  are arranged on the front end portion of the upper surface of the housing  34 . In the upper surface of the housing  34 , a rectangular opening  39  is formed behind the palm-rest portion  36 . A keyboard  40  for use as an input device is disposed in the opening  39 . The input device is not limited to a keyboard and may alternatively be a touch panel or the like. 
         [0023]    A main circuit board, CPU, memory, etc., which are not shown, are arranged in the housing  34 . Further, a secondary battery  41  that functions as a rechargeable battery is removably attached to the bottom side of the rear part of the housing  34 . 
         [0024]    The display unit  33  comprises a housing  42  in the form of a flat rectangular box and a liquid-crystal display panel  44 , which is contained in the housing  42  and functions as a display device. The display screen of the display panel  44  is externally exposed through a display window  46  in the housing  42 . The display unit  33  is pivotably supported on the rear end portion of the housing  34  by a pair of hinges  48  on the rear end portion of the apparatus main body  32 . Thus, the display unit  33  is pivotable between a closed position in which it is leveled so as to cover the keyboard  40  from above and an illustrated open position in which it stands behind the keyboard. 
         [0025]    Within the display unit  33 , a power reception unit  50  is provided on the back side of the display panel  44 . The power reception unit  50  comprises, for example, a reception coil (a secondary-side coil), which is electrically connected to a main circuit board and charging control circuit in the apparatus main body  32 . The power reception unit  50  receives power transmitted from the charger  10  and supplies it to the charging control circuit. 
         [0026]    In charging the secondary battery  41  of the notebook PC  30  by means of the charger  10 , the charger  10  is placed on, for example, a desk with the power transmission unit  20  and intake/exhaust unit  24  standing upright, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The notebook PC  30  is placed on the desk with its display unit  33  open so that the power reception unit  50  on the back side of the display unit  33  is opposed to the power transmission unit  20  of the charger  10 . In this state, the charger  10  is activated to generate electricity in the fuel cell module  16 , and generated power is transmitted from the power transmission unit  20  to the power reception unit  50  of the notebook PC  30  in a non-contact manner. Specifically, the DC power generated in the cell module  16  is converted to AC power by the power circuit  22  and delivered to the power transmission unit  20  and input to the power transmission coil. The AC power is converted by the power transmission coil to magnetic flux, which is input to the power reception unit  50 . In the power reception unit  50  of the notebook PC  30 , the power reception coil is excited by the input magnetic flux, and the AC power is output. This AC power is converted to DC power by the power circuit of the PC  30  and further input to the secondary battery  41  through the charging control circuit. Thereupon, the secondary battery  41  is charged. 
         [0027]    On the other hand, the intake/exhaust unit  24  of the charger  10  is located on the opposite side to the notebook PC  30 . During charging, the external air is introduced through the intake/exhaust unit  24  and supplied to the fuel cell module  16 . The by-products of the electricity generation are discharged through the intake/exhaust unit  24  to the opposite side to the notebook PC  30 . 
         [0028]    According to the charger  10  constructed in this manner, the intake/exhaust unit  24  and power transmission unit  20  are arranged on the opposite faces of the charger. Even when the power transmission unit  20  and power reception unit  50  of the apparatus to be charged are joined together, therefore, the intake/exhaust unit  24  cannot be closed by the apparatus to be charged, so that necessary air for the electricity generation can be reliably introduced. At the same time, the water vapor and carbon dioxide produced by the electricity generation can be discharged away (or oppositely in this case) from the power transmission unit  20 , so that the discharged by-products can be prevented from impinging on the apparatus to be charged. According to the charger  10 , necessary air for the electricity generation can be secured, and the apparatus to be charged can be protected against the produced water vapor and carbon dioxide. Thus, the reliability of the charger can be improved. 
         [0029]    According to the notebook PC constructed in this manner, moreover, the power reception unit  50  is provided on a back portion of the pivotable display unit. Therefore, the charger  10  can be used with the power transmission unit  20  and intake/exhaust unit  24  externally exposed. Accordingly, charging can be performed without causing the intake/exhaust unit  24  of the charger  10  to be closed between the desk and charger or failing to place the PC stably on the desk. Thus, if the power reception unit is located on the bottom side of the PC, the intake/exhaust unit of the charger is inevitably closed between the desk and the main body of the charger when charging is attempted with the PC on the desk. If the face of the charger on which the power transmission unit (intake/exhaust unit) is located is too small relative to the footprint of the PC, furthermore, the charger cannot be stably placed on the desk. According to the present embodiment, the notebook PC can be charged by the charger  10  without causing these problems. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show a storage case  60  that contains the charger  10  and notebook PC  30  as the apparatus to be charged. Since the charger  10  is of the non-contact type, the storage case  60  can spatially separate the apparatus to be charged from the charger  10  while the former is being charged by the latter. Thus, maintenance of ventilation can be reconciled with protection of the apparatus to be charged. 
         [0031]    More specifically, the storage case  60  is divided into two storage spaces, a main case  62  and sub-case  64 . The main case  62  forms an apparatus storage portion that contains the notebook PC so as to cover its outer periphery. The sub-case  64  forms a charger storage portion that contains the charger  10 . The main case  62  is in the form of, for example, a flat rectangular box larger than the PC. The main case  62  is formed of a synthetic resin or other material that has neither electrical nor magnetic shielding properties but has a desired mechanical strength. The main case  62  is openable and closable. Further, a handle  66  is mounted on the outer surface of the main case  62  for better portability. 
         [0032]    A positioning member  68  is disposed in the main case  62 . The positioning member  68  engages with a part of the notebook PC  30  in the main case  62  and positions and holds the PC in a predetermined position in the main case. In this case, the notebook PC  30  is positioned so that the power reception unit  50  faces the charger storage portion. 
         [0033]    The sub-case  64  is secured to one outer face of the main case  62 . The sub-case  64  is in the form of a rectangular box slightly larger than the charger  10 , and its one principal surface side is opposed to the main case  62 . A vent portion  70  for the passage of air is formed in an atmospheric-side surface of the sub-case  64  opposite to the main case  62 . The vent portion  70  comprises a large number of vents or meshes as illustrated. 
         [0034]    The charger  10  is contained in the sub-case  64  in such a manner that its intake/exhaust unit  24  and power transmission unit  20  face the vent portion  70  and the power reception unit  50  of the electronic apparatus in the main case  62 , respectively. 
         [0035]    According to the storage case  60  constructed in this manner, the main case  62  is configured to cover the outer periphery of the apparatus to be charged to protect it and can contain the apparatus so that the power reception unit  50  faces the charger storage portion. The sub-case  64  is formed so that its outer (atmospheric-side) surface is meshed to ensure ventilation around the intake/exhaust unit  24  of the charger  10 . The charger  10  is contained in the sub-case  64  in such a manner that its intake/exhaust unit  24  and power transmission unit  20  face the meshed surface and the main case  62 , respectively. Thus, the power reception unit  50  overlaps the power transmission unit  20  of the charger  10  when the notebook PC is contained in the storage case  60 . 
         [0036]    The rechargeable battery of the notebook PC  30  can be charged with the PC and charger  10  in the storage case  60 . If the charger  10  is activated, air is introduced and fed into the fuel cell module  16  through the vent portion  70  by the intake/exhaust unit  24 . The by-products of the electricity generation are externally discharged through the vent portion  70  by the intake/exhaust unit  24 . The generated electricity is transmitted from the power transmission unit  20  to the power reception unit  50  of the notebook PC  30  in the main case  62  and so charges the secondary battery of the notebook PC. Such charging can also be achieved when the storage case  60  is being carried. 
         [0037]    According to the storage case  60  constructed in this manner, the charger and apparatus storage portions are arranged independently of each other, and the charger storage portion comprises the vent portion. Therefore, maintenance of air supply can be reconciled with protection of the electronic apparatus even when the apparatus is kept in storage or being carried. 
         [0038]    According to this arrangement, there may be provided a charger with improved reliability, capable of ensuring sufficient air supply and eliminating the influence of emissions on an apparatus to be charged, an electronic apparatus chargeable by the charger, and a storage case for accommodating the charger and electronic apparatus. 
         [0039]    While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions. 
         [0040]    In the embodiments described herein, the intake/exhaust unit of the charger is opposed to the power transmission unit. However, the intake/exhaust unit is only expected to be oriented differently from the power transmission unit. Further, the apparatus to be charged is not limited to a notebook PC and may be any of various other electronic apparatuses, e.g., a mobile terminal, cellphone, recorder, etc. The apparatus storage portion and charger storage portion of the storage case are not limited to the shapes of rectangular boxes and their shapes may be variously changed, if necessary.