Abstract:
A battery that slides into a battery bay in a laptop computer is housed integrally with its own power converter and battery charging circuit.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to batteries and chargers for laptop computers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The conveniences afforded by the portability of battery-powered laptop computers can be frustrated in part by the need for the user to carry with him an external battery charger to ensure that the laptop batteries do not run low during, e.g., important meetings or other events. Typically, the battery charger is a brick-like object that has two cords, one for plugging into an AC electrical socket and the other for plugging into the laptop to recharge the battery of the laptop. The present invention recognizes that it can be cumbersome and inconvenient to have to carry this additional device along with the laptop, and furthermore that if the user forgets to bring the charger, the laptop can become inoperable at remote locations in which the user desires to use the laptop. With these critical observations in mind, the invention herein is provided. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A portable computer has a screen member holding a computer monitor and a base member bearing an array of computer keys. The base member is hingedly engaged with the screen member for movement between a closed configuration, wherein the screen member and base member are substantially flush against each other with the monitor and array not being exposed to a user, and an open configuration, wherein the screen member is not substantially flush with the base member and the monitor and array are exposed to a user. A battery housing is removably engageable with the base member or screen member. The housing holds a battery and an AC to DC converter such that the converter is internal to the housing. The converter is electrically connected or connectable to a power cord having a first plug configured for engaging an AC power outlet, so that the converter can convert AC power to DC to charge the battery. With this arrangement, no electrical cord external to the housing is required to connect the converter to the battery. 
         [0004]    In some implementations the cord has a second plug configured for engaging a socket on the housing. In other implementations the cord has an end opposite the first plug, with the end being disposed in the housing and not being configured for manual removal therefrom by a user. 
         [0005]    The housing can be formed from a unitary piece of plastic, and can be slidably engageable with a bay in the base member. If desired, the base member or the screen member can be formed with a cord receptacle such that the cord can be stowed in the receptacle when not in use. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a battery assembly for a computer includes a housing, a battery in the housing, and an AC to DC converter in the housing and electrically connected and/or connectable to the battery. A power cord is connected and/or is connectable to the housing and to an AC power outlet to provide AC power to the converter. Also, an electrical connector is on the housing and is configured for engaging a complementarily-shaped connector on the computer to electrically engage the battery with at least one component in the computer. 
         [0007]    In still another aspect, a method is disclosed for providing power to a portable computer. The method includes rigidly engaging a battery with a battery charging power converter, and while the battery is rigidly engaged with the battery charging power converter, sliding the battery into a bay of the portable computer to power the computer. While the battery is in the bay and rigidly engaged with the battery charging power converter, the battery may be charged by electrically connecting the battery charging power converter to an AC outlet. 
         [0008]    The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view from the rear of a laptop computer in the closed configuration, showing the battery module in an exploded relationship with the laptop; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the laptop in the open configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0011]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a system is shown, generally designated  10 , that includes a portable computer  12  such as a laptop (sometimes referred to as a “notebook”) computer and an integrated battery module  14 . The battery module  14  is integrated in that its below-described constituent parts are rigidly held together and are not configured for separation from each other by a user in the course of using the computer  12  with module  14 . Accordingly, in one embodiment the module  14  includes a housing  16  that preferably is made from a unitary piece of molded plastic material and that holds at least one computer battery  18  and at least one AC to DC power converter  20 . A battery charging circuit  22  in the housing  16  may interconnect the converter  20  and the battery  18 . 
         [0012]    The converter  20  can be connected to an AC power outlet by a cord  24 . One end of the cord  24  terminates in a plug  26  that is configured for plugging into an AC outlet, while the opposite end of the cord  24  is permanently engaged with the housing  16  and is connected to the converter  20 . Or, the cord  24  can be engageable and disengageable with the housing  16  manually by hand by the user by configuring the cord  24  with a battery plug  28  that in turn is configured for engaging a power receptacle  30  in the housing  16  as shown. 
         [0013]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show that the computer  12  includes a flat screen member  32  holding a computer monitor  34  that is connected by a hinge  36  to a flat base member  38 . The base member  38  bears an array  40  of computer keys as well as a pointing and clicking device such as but not limited to a touch screen  42  and “left” and “right” entry buttons  44 ,  46 . 
         [0014]    In accordance with principles known in the art, the screen member  32  can be pivoted against the base member  38  to establish a closed configuration, wherein the screen member  32  and base member  38  are substantially flush against each other as shown in  FIG. 1 , with the monitor  34  and array  40  not being exposed to a user. Also, the screen member  32  can be pivoted away from the base member  38  to an open configuration, wherein the screen member  32  is not substantially flush with the base member  38  and the monitor  34  and array  40  are exposed to a user. Also in accordance with principles known in the art, the computer  12 , e.g., the base member  38 , can hold a computer processor  46 , a solid state storage  48 , and one or more disk drives  50  such as but not limited to internal hard disk drives and optical drives for receiving optical disks  52 . 
         [0015]    As best shown in  FIG. 1 , a battery bay  54  is formed in the computer  12 , preferably in the base member  38 . The battery bay  54  is configured for slidably or pivotably receiving the module  14  therein, preferably with an outer end  56  of the module  14  substantially flush with the rear end  58  of the computer  12  when fully engaged. Less preferably the module  14  is permanently mounted in the bay  54 . To electrically connect the battery  18  with, e.g., the computer processor  46 , a module connector  60  is formed on the housing  16  of the module  14 , and the module connector  60  engages a complementarily-shaped computer connector  62  in the bay  54  of the computer  12 , it being understood that the computer connector  62  is electrically connected to internal components of the computer  12  and that the module connector  60  is electrically connected to the battery  18 . In one non-limiting implementation, the connectors  60 ,  62  are wiping-type connectors. Pin-and-socket connectors can also be used. 
         [0016]    If desired, the computer  12  may be formed with a cord receptacle, with the cord  24  being stowable in the receptacle when not in use. The receptacle may be covered by a hinged door  64  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0017]    With the above combination of structure, it may now be appreciated that a user of the system  10  need only engage the battery module  14  with the computer  12  and need not carry an external battery charger along. Instead, the user need only plug the cord  24  into an AC outlet when it is necessary to charge the battery  18 . When the battery module  14  is removable from the computer  12 , it can be removed by a user and charged during periods when the computer is not in use, although owing to the inventive advantages disclosed herein the battery module  14  need never be removed from the bay  54  to charge the battery, nor is any power converter that is external to the module  14  necessary. Further, no electrical cord that is external to the battery module  14  is required to connect the converter  20  to the battery  18 . 
         [0018]    While the particular INTEGRATED BATTERY AND CHARGER FOR LAPTOP COMPUTER is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.