International Business Machines Corporation

Yasuhiro Kobayashi

Takayuki Katoh

Hidenori Kinoshita

Shinobu Miyachi

Mitsuru Ogawa

Takashi Yomo

To enable a power to the computer to be shut down in a simple configuration and independently of the status of the computer. The power switch is set at the normal position while the computer is operating. Each of the power, reset, and function signals is thus on the high level (A). When the function key A is pressed in that status, the function signal can be shifted to a low level signal so as to validate only the key A (B). While the power switch is shifted to a pointed position and the key A is not pressed, only the power signal is validated, thus a power-on or power-off command can be issued (C). If the power switch is set at a pointed position and the key A is pressed, then the level of the reset signal becomes low, thereby the reset signal is validated with the key A (D). Consequently, the power to the computer can be shut down forcibly if the power switch is set at a pointed position and the key A is pressed, regardless of the status of the computer operation.

Hard power shutdown of a computer by actuating both a keyboard controller independent key and a soft power switch together to bypass the power switch together to bypass the power controller

A method for docking/undocking a portable computer to/from an expansion unit is disclosed. The portable computer includes a main battery, and the expansion unit includes a second battery. In response to an eject event, the condition of the second battery is determined. If the second battery is in a discharging condition, a power supply route is switched from the second battery of the expansion unit to the main battery of the portable computer. If the second battery is in a charging condition, the charging condition is suspended. At this point, a hot undocking of the portable computer from the expansion unit can be performed.

Method for docking/undocking a portable computer to/from an expansion unit

Described is an improved method for undocking a structure having an optional number of tiers from a multilayer-dock structure constituted by docking a plurality of expansion units respectively having an intrinsic resource to a portable PC. To undock only a portable PC from a triple-layer-dock structure constituted by docking a first expansion unit and a second expansion unit to the portable PC, the first expansion unit is made to generate an undock event. The IDE device of the first expansion unit and the PCI device of the second expansion unit are separated from the control by an operating system by taking the undock event as an opportunity and the interfaces of the devices and are electrically separated. The operability is improved because it is possible to unitedly obtain an object to be undocked through both vision and operation.

Growing community of inventors

Atsugi, Japan

Yasuhiro Kobayashi