International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Keiji Suzuki

Hideto Horikoshi

Satoshi Yamazaki

Shigefumi Odaohhara

Mitsuhiro Yamazaki

Masaki Oie

Izuru Narita

Toshitsugu Mito

Tomoki Maruichi

Noboru Tsurukawa

Noritoshi Yamasaki

Kazuo Ohashi

Noboru Furukawa

Yohichi Kozasu

A function extending apparatus for receiving a portable computer is disclosed. The function extending apparatus includes an AC/DC adapter, a second charging system and a controller. The AC/DC adapter is capable of supplying power to the portable computer equipped with a system load and a first charging system having a first charger and a first battery. The second charging system of the function extending apparatus includes a second charger and a second battery. The controller reduces power consumption of the second charging system when the output power of the AC/DC adapter reaches a first threshold value. The controller reduces power consumption of the first charging system when the output power of the AC/DC adapter reaches a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value is higher than the first threshold value.

Method for prioritizing load consumption within a notebook computer

A computer and a method for enabling remote communication to a computer operating in a power-saving mode in which one or more one power sources to internal devices are disabled. The computer is equipped with a power management control circuit which is responsive to a first signal indicating that a device used to receive remote communication is to receive power while operating in a power-saving mode. In the event that a remote communications is detected which is targeted for the computer, a second signal is asserted by the remote communications device. The power management control circuit responds by exiting the power-saving mode and restoring power to the disabled power source to enable the computer to process the incoming communication. The remote communication may be through a wireless source such as a radio frequency channel or through a fixed wire such as a telephone network or LAN. Other aspects of the invention enable communication through an option card installed in a option slot or a notebooks docking station such as a radio device, modem, or LAN adapter.

Method and computer for remote communication while operating in a power-saving mode

A signal PWR is driven into a low level in response to a power-off command from the computer, then the low level PWR signal is entered to an input terminal of a switching circuit and regulators to respectively. Consequently, the regulators come to rest and thereby the power supply to the computer is shut off. Receiving the low level PWR signal, a photo-coupler and a transistor in the switching circuit are turned off respectively, as well as the operation of a power factor correction circuitry is stopped. Consequently, an AC power factor correction circuitry comes to rest when the power supply to the computer is shut off, and thereby the power consumption of the computer can be reduced.

Active filter for computer, filter module, power module and computer

A method and apparatus for controlling battery charging current selectively receive electrical power from either a first external power source or a second external power source and outputs part of the power source to a charger for charging a battery. A reference value supplying apparatus gives a first reference value equivalent to the output current capability of the first external power source when a charging-current controller is connected to the first external power source and gives a second reference value equivalent to the current capability of the second external power source when the charging-current controller is connected to the second external power source. A current detection circuit detects current that the charging-current controller receives from either the first external power source or the second external power source and a charging current control circuit controls a charging current in the charger so that the charging current does not exceed the first or second reference value detected by the current detection circuit.

Method and apparatus for controlling battery charging current

Provided is a relatively simple PC switch circuit which performs a function for removing the residual voltage with a high reliability. The switch circuit includes a first switch,having a first terminal connected to the first power source, a second terminal connected to the load component and a control terminal to which a first control signal for controlling the first switch is supplied; a second switch,having a first terminal connected to the control terminal of the first switch, a second terminal connected to the second power source and a control terminal to which a second control signal for controlling the second switch is supplied; and a reverse current preventing element,connected between the load component and the first terminal of the second switch. A fault condition of the second switch is easily detected, and a flow of a wasteful current from the second terminal of the first switch to the second power source is prevented. This circuit is ideally suited for use in personal computer technology.

PC switch circuit with discharge circuitry

Provided is a relatively simple switch circuit which performs a function for removing the residual voltage with a high reliability. The switch circuit includes a first switch,having a first terminal connected to the first power source, a second terminal connected to the load component and a control terminal to which a first control signal for controlling the first switch is supplied; a second switch,having a first terminal connected to the control terminal of the first switch, a second terminal connected to the second power source and a control terminal to which a second control signal for controlling the second switch is supplied; and a reverse current preventing element,connected between the load component and the first terminal of the second switch. A fault condition of the second switch is easily detected, and a flow of a wasteful current from the second terminal of the first switch to the second power source is prevented. This circuit is ideally suited for use in personal computer technology.

Switch circuit and electronic apparatus with a discharge circuit

Disclosed is an integrated uninterruptable power supply (UPS) for a computer powered by a commercial power supply. The uninterruptable power supply is operative to feed power from a normal power supply to a first load to be operated at a first DC voltage and a second DC voltage that is lower than the first DC voltage. If a characteristic of the normal power supply is deviated from a defined value, the UPS of the present invention will continue feeding power from a battery power supply to the first load. The uninterruptable power supply includes a power supply unit, having an output connected to the first load, for converting a voltage of the normal power supply to the first DC voltage and for outputting the same. The UPS also includes a first voltage converter having an input connected to the battery and an output connected to the first load, for converting an output voltage of the battery to the second DC voltage and for outputting the same. If the normal power supply is within the defined value, the first voltage converter waits in a no-load state.

Uninterruptable power supply

An AC adaptor that can reduce power not in use state, and a battery-operated electronic apparatus that can employ such an AC adaptor. An AC adaptor includes, (a) an input line along which an external AC voltage is input, (b) a first transformer for transforming the input AC voltage into a DC voltage at a first voltage level, (c) a switch provided on the primary side of the first transformer, (d) an output line along which a DC voltage on the secondary side of the first transformer is output externally, (e) a second transformer for transforming the input AC voltage into a DC voltage at a second voltage level that is higher than the first voltage level and for outputting the resultant DC voltage to the output line, and (f) an AC adaptor operation control circuit for comparing a voltage level across the output line with a reference voltage level, which is higher than the first voltage level and which is lower than the second voltage level, and for turning on the switch when the voltage level across the output line is lower than the reference voltage level, or for turning off the switch when the voltage level across the output line exceeds the reference voltage level. When an electronic apparatus does not require supply of power, the AC adaptor is detached from the system load in the apparatus, so that the voltage across the output line of the AC adaptor exceeds the reference voltage. In response to the result of the comparison, the switch on the primary side of the first transformer is turned off, and thus the operation of the first transformer can be halted.

AC adaptor with power consumption reduction in unused state

AC adaptor with power consumption reduction in unused state for a

A controlled battery charger for appropriately executing trickle charging for an electronic apparatus incorporating more than two batteries even when output terminal voltages of the incorporated batteries differ. A battery charger of the present invention includes a trickle charging circuit serially inserted between the output terminals of the first and the second batteries. An example of the trickle charging circuit is constituted by the first zener diode whose cathode is connected to the output terminal of the first battery, and the second zener diode whose cathode is connected to the output terminal of the second battery and whose anode is connected to the anode of the first zener diode, i.e., is constituted by two zener diodes serially connected in opposing directions. A resistor may be serially inserted between the anodes of the first and the second zener diodes. When the gap between the output terminal voltages Vbat1 and Vbat2 of the first and the second batteries becomes larger than the first or the second zener voltage Vz1 or Vz2, the trickle charging circuit enters the current-carrying state. For example, when the first battery is over-discharged and the gap between the output terminal voltages Vbat1 and Vbat2 is greater than the second zener voltage Vz2, the output terminals enter the current-carrying states, and a current flows from the second battery to the first battery until the gap of the voltage level is equal to or lower than the zener voltage Vz2. As a result, trickle charging for the first battery is performed by the second battery. The resistor inserted serially between the first and the second zener diodes controls the current volume that flows between the batteries in the current-carrying state into a microcurrent appropriate for trickle charging.

Controlled battery charger for charging multiple batteries

A power supply circuit prevents, without the use of a series diode, the flow of reverse current from a battery to an AC power adaptor when the power adaptor is disconnected from its external power source. The circuit includes both voltage and current detectors to determine if the output voltage and current of the power adaptor are above or below predetermined reference levels. A summing circuit sums the outputs of the voltage and current detectors, and when both the detected voltage and current are below the reference levels, a switch disconnects the battery from the output terminal of the power adaptor, thereby preventing reverse current flow.

Power supply circuit for use with a battery and an AC power adaptor

To make it possible to supply to a battery a charging current having a sufficient capacity which enables a short-time charge while supplying a drive current for usual operation to a battery operable electronic device, without making construction large-sized and complicated. The present invention is intended to be able to delicately vary a charging current of a battery according to the variation of power consumption of load on an electronic device, by providing constant power feedback control means for performing feedback control of the outputted power so as to cause a constant power or a nearly constant power, based on a current feedback value and a voltage feedback value.

Growing community of inventors

Fujisawa, Japan

Keiji Suzuki