Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~9~
PORTABLE ~ ~Ul~
Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to a portable computer comprising
a base unit having an upper surface on which a lid is hinged, an
alectronic unit housed in the base unit and q~p~hle of assuming various
operational states, an input unit for contxolling the eleatronic unit
and a display screen carried by the lid and controlled by the electronic
unit ~o di~play graphics symbols and ~lrh; ic charac~ers ovex
several lines and, in which the lid aan be positioned between a closed
aonfiguration and an opan conf;~ra~ion and in which the lid, in its
closed configuration, is superimposed over the upper surfaae of the base
unit ~hereby proteating the input unit and screen and, in its open
configuration, allows access to the input unit and enables the display
screen to be seen.
The base unit comprises a housing able to house a battery pack
having two t~ n~l ~ which aan be connected to the two power supply
conductors in order to power the electronic unit and in which the
battery pack comprises a case containing rechargeable batteries.
Bac~Lound Of The Invention
Many ~ n,l~ of portabla computers of this type ar~ known in
which, inevitablyr it is only possible to view visual information as to
the operational state of the alectronic unit when the lid is in its open
configuration and the display screen iG visible.
~ uropean Patent Application No. EP-A-0,419,177 disclo~es one
axampla of a computer of the type defined above which is battery-powexed
and in which various operational states of its electronic unit are
provided. These states concern audio signal processing~ In particular,
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the functions connected with recording and playback can be preset using
buttons on one side of the computer which can be actuated when the lid
is closed. In the recording state, the audio signals coming from a
microphone ars recorded in a memory by the computer after they have
undergone analogue/digital conversion. Conversely, in the playback
state, the signals recorded in the memory are played bac}c by a speaker,
after they have undergone digital/analogue conversion. In this ~~ ~le,
no visual information is available as to the state of the electronic
unit after the buttons have been actuated. This proves to be a
particular disadvantage with respect to the functional autonomy provided
by the batteries if the computer is in an operation state which has been
miGtakenly selected.
In the European Patent Application No. 0~19177, in order to
recharge the batteries, the battery pack has to be t ved from the
computer and the bakteries recharged using a special recharging device.
Mo- auvw, this computer does not offer the option of using individual,
no.. L echargeable batteries. Its scope ~or use is thus limited, for
example when once the batteries have run down, a second battery pack
containing charged batteries is unavailable.
Summary Of The Invention
Preferred ~; ts of the invention provide a portable
computer fitted with a lid to protect the screen and in which it is
possible to view the operational state of the electronia unit when the
lid is closed.
One e '-:'; t of the invention provides a computer in which a
mode indicator is carried by the base unit for displaying symbols and
characters which indicate the operational state of the complter. The lid
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is provided wi~h a viewing ~one, external to the display, through which
the mode indicator may be ~iewed when the lid is in its alosed posltion.
The mode indicator is usually smaller i~ size than the display screen.
In another '~ of the invention the computer includes an
audio processing unit. The lid carries a series of presetting keys
which are accesiblf3 when the lid i9 alo~ed. These can be used to preset
variou f operational states o~ the computer such as record or playbaak
for the audio process;ng unit.
A further '~ of the present invention provides a
por~able computer which can be powered reliably using a pack of
rechargeable batteries, ufing an ~xternal power unit ~or recharging the
battery packs, and which also offers the option of using :c ~cially
available, non rechargeable batteries. To this end, the portable
computer comprises a power supply control circuit connected to its power
supply conductors in order to power the electronic ~ on~nts with
suitable voltages, and a recharging airauit to generate a given
recharging current. The computer also comprises a power socket which
can be connected to an external power unit in order to power the control
circuit, and activate the recharging circuit and to a sensor device
which can detect the presence of the battery pack in the housing of the
base unit, so as to make the recharging current of the power supply
control circuit available to the rechargeable batteries. The h~ -~; n~ of
the base unit can house a plurality of single non Lechargeable batteries
as an alternative to the battery pack, and the sensor device does not
respond to the presence of single batteries in the said houqing and thus
g; n~ attempts at recharging the non L ~chargeable batterie~ are
pr~venLed.
The housing of the base unit can carry intf ~ te conductors
which suitably connect the non-rechargeable batteries together and to
the power supply conductors.
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The invention in its various aspects is defined in more detail
in the ~pp~nd~ claims to which reference should now be made.
Brief Description Of The Drawinqs
Preferred ~ ~ a; ~ Ls of the invention will now be described in
detail by way of ~ le with reference to the drawings in whiah:
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the computer according to the ~ -
in~ention in its working configuration;
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the computer in Figure 1 in a
different working configuration,
Fig. 3 shows a detail from the computer in Figure 1;
Fig. 4 shows an electrical block diagram of the computer of the
invention;
:'~
Fig. 5 shows a view of the detail of the computer in Figure. l;
Fig. 6 i6 a detail of the electrical diagr~n in Figure 4
Fig. 7 is a partially PYplo~ed perspec~ive view of the ~ P~L~L 0
Figure 2;
Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of certain details of the computer
of Figure 1, to a different scale;
Fig. 9 is a partial plan view of a detail in Figure 7, to a different
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~sa~s2
scale;
Fig. 10 is the s~me Vi2W as in Figure 7, in a first working
confi~lration;
Fig. 11 is the same view as in Yigure 7, in a second working
configuration;
Fig. 12 is a plan view in partial cross section of a detail o~ Figure
11;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the detail of Figure 12;
Fig. 14 is a partial front cross section of Figure 10; and
Fig. 15 is a partial front cross section of Figurell.
With reference to Figures 1 to 4, the portable computer,
r~ferenced 31, is of the multifunational type and comprises a base unit
32, a lid 33 hinged to the base unit 32 and which can be positioned
h0tween a closed con~iguration (Fig. Z) and an open configu~ation (Fig.
1), a~ electronic unit 34, houi~ed in the base unit 32 and comprising
keys 35 on a keyboard 36, for controlling the electronic unit 34, and a
display screen 37 carried by the lid 33 and controlled by the electronic
unit 34 to display graphic symbols and i~lrhi ic charactsrs over
several lines.
The base unit 32 has a substantially par~ r;re~ somewhat
flattensd, shape and has an upper surface 38 which is horizontal in usie,
a bottom 39, a front part 40, a rear part 41, a right side 42 and a left
side 43. The lid 33 has a front surface 44 and the screen 37 is of the
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2 û ~ 2
flat type and covers most of the surface 44. The lid 33, in its closed
configuration, superimposes the surface 44 over the upper surface 38 of
the base unit 32, thereby protecting the keyboard ~6 and the screen 37.
In its open aonfiguration, the lid can assume various positions about a
vertical position, allowing access to the lceyboard 36 and enabling ths
display screen 37 to be seen. In particular, the base unit 32 (Fig. l)
has an edga on which the lid 33 is hinged on the rear part 41 and on the
upper surface 38 and the lid 33 has an edge on which the unit 3Z is
hinged on one of its rear edges.
The computer 31 also comprises a mode indicator 46, smaller in
size than the screen 37 and carried by the base unit 32, for diFplaying
characters and symbols indicating various operational states of the
computsr. The lid 33 in turn comprises a viewing zone 47, in its lower
part external to the screen 37, so that the mode indicator 46 can still
be seen when the lid is in the closed configuration (Fig. 2). The mode
indicator 46 comprises a display panel of the liquid crystal type which
is adjacent to the hinged edge of the base unit. The viewing zone 47 is
adjacent to the hinged edge of the lid 33 and is provided so tha~ the
indicator 46 can still be seen when the lid is in its open
configuration. Flat, flexible cables 45 in turn connect the electronic
unit 34 inside the u~it 32 to the screen 37, across the h~ng;ng zone
between the unit 32 and the lid 33.
The lid 33 comprises two side sections 48 and 49 which project
~rom i~8 hinged edge so as to engage with two c~LLa~ollding side
sec~ions 51 and 52 of the base unit 32, which project from its upper
~urface 38. The viewing zone 47 consists ot a bay between the
projecting sections 48 and 49. The indicator ~anel 46 is located on one
face of a substantially prismatic support 53 and faces towardq the front
part of the computer, at an angle of 30 relative to the upper surface
38 of the base unit 32. The support 53 is partially housed i~ the bay
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47 in both the open and closed configurations of the lid. In this way
the panel 46 can be seen easily across the bay 47 both when the lid 33
is closed and when it is open in its vertical working position.
The computer 31 is very compact, of the palm held type, having
base dimensions equivalent to those of a notebook o~ standard A5 format,
i.e. approximataly 210 x 148 mm and a thickness of app~oximately 32 mm,
in the closed configuration. The lid 33 i8 also of A5 size. the display
screen 37 is a 7" screen of the reflscting liquid crystal type,
equivalent to an active area of approximately 141 x 106 mm and with
rectangular dots of 0.24 x 0.20 mm, for displa~ing figures with a
graphics resolu~ion of 640 x 400 dots and for displaying 25 rows of
~lp~ - ic characters over 80 columns. The mode indicator panel has
an active area of approximately 40 x 8.5 mm and has eleven positions
I-XI, ~n~h~;ng five graphic symbols and six ~lph -ic characters to
be displayed.
on its side 43, the c n,,u~eL comprises a slot 54 with a
connector 56 for data and ~oy ~" ~Y~h~nge using a mio.oy~ocessor (IC)
. ~
card 5, for : le of the JEIDA, PCMCIA type. On its side 42 the
computer 31 also ccmprises a parallel connector 58 and a serial
connector 59 (RS-232 type) for data ~y~h~n~e via external lines, with
external peripherals such as modems, display devices, printers and
external bulk memories. The conne~o.~ 58 and 59 can be covered by a
small lid 60.
With reference to Figure 4, the electronic unit 34 comprises a
central proc~ss;~ unit (CPU) 61, a main dynamic type memory (DRAM) 62,
static type memories (SRAM) 63 and 64, a read only memory (ROM) 66 and a
p~oy- ~hle read only memory (PRON) 67. The unit 34 further comprises
control circuits 68 and 69, for the screen 37 and for the connectors 58
and 59 Le~eaLively and a control and timing unit 71 for the memories
62, 63, 64, 66 and 67, for the control circuits 68 and 69 and for the
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CPU 61.
The CPU 61 consists, for e~ample, of an NEC V30~L
microprocessor, operating at 16 m8z. The DRAM 62 has a memory of one
MByte and the SRAMs 63 and 64 are dedicated to the screen 37 and to the
external lines and have a capacity of 32 kBytes and 128 kBytes
respectively. The control circuit 68 is for example of the 82C426 type
whereas the control circuit 69 is of the PC87310 type. The DOS prograMS
are p~ -~tly recorded in the ROM 66, whereas khe BIOS p OYL are
p~r~-n~ntly ~c~ ded in the PROM 67.
The computer 31 also comprises a non-volatile bulk memory 83,
for ~ n~ n~ data with the electronic unit 34. This memory can
preferably comprise a hard disk unit (HDU) 84, fixed inside the base
unit 32. Some of the keys 35 on the keyboard 36 are pre~et to acce~s
bulk memory 83, and the mode indicator 46 has a bulk memory symbol, in
the position I (Fig. 3), which can b~ displayed to indicate that the
bulk memory has been activated by the unit 34.
A battery pack 87 comprises a set of batteries 88 (Fig. 4) and
aan be housed in the unit 32 and is c~p~le of powering the electronic
unit 34 via its power supply control circuit 89 in order to power the
various functions of tha computer 31. The control circuit 89 comprises
a DC/DC converter 91 and a recharging aontrol circuit 92 and defines
reduced power and liMited operational state~ of the computer 31 so as to
limit energy aons, ,tion from the batteries 88 whenever some of the
potential functions of the computer are not being exploited. The
batteriee 88 are rechargeable and the computer 31 can be connected to an
e~ternal power unit 93 so as to operate on an external power supply and
recharge the said batteries.
The circuit 92 is connected to a main switch 94 which projects
from the upper surface 38 of the base unit 32 and can be actuated when
the lid 33 in its open configuration, in order to presek the electronic
unit 34 for operational modes assoaiated with the open configuration of
the lid 33. The control circuit 92 also transmits signals to the
indicator 46 so that it may display alph~ -_ic character is in the
position~ YII and VIII, such as to represent the limited operational
states preset by the said circuit 92. A graphic symbol representing a
battery in the position II on the indicator 46 can further b~ activated
by the çircuit 92 to display that there is an insufficient charge in the
batteries 88. In the clossd configuration of the lid, this symbol can be
also seen in the rest state o~ the electronic unit.
The lid 33 (Figs. 1 and 2) has a surface 96 on the opposite side
from the suff ace 44 which is accessible from ~he outside when the lid is
in the closed configuration. The surface 96 carries six presetting keys
97 which are connected to the electronic unit 34 via the cables 45 and
can be actuated by an operator in order to pre~et some of the
operational sta~es of the computer 31, when the lid 33 is in the closed
configuration.
On its front part 40, the base unit 32 carries a toothed key 98
in an elastically yielr~; ng manner. The lid 33 in turn comprises a strip
99 having a notch which engages with the toothed key 98 when the lid is
in its closed configuration. In this way the lid 33 can be locked in
the position reached. Pressure e~erted on the key ~8 releases the strip
99 from the toothed key 98 enabling the lid to be opened once again.
In the rest state, the electronic unit 34 is preset to activate
a clock function which gives the actual time in the positions III-VI of
the mode indicator 46.
~ he computer 31 according to the invention also comprises a
voice input/output unit 101, selection means for selecting a
voice-s ' state of the computer for processing verbal c -~c, and
presetting means comprising the presetting keys 9 to presat the
di~ferent operational conditions of the electronic unit 34 in the
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2 ~? 9 ~
voice~ n~ state. The unit 101 in particular comprises a miarophone
103 located on the front part 40 of the base unit 32 and a speaker 104
with a volume control 106 located on the right side 42. Finally, the
seleation means comprise a change-over switch 102 which is also located
on the side 42.
The elaatronic unit 34 also comprises a voice-conversion unit
(DSP) 107 which is preset to sample the analogue signals coming from the
microphone 103 in response to the sounds received, in particular verbal
_ _ a~ ~ and convert these signals into digital ~ignals which can be
proa~sPd by other circuits in the same unit 34. The unit 107 is also
preset to convart digital signal~ coming from other circuits in the unit
34 into analogue signals to be reproduced as sounds by the speaker 104.
The verbal , a~ I in their digital form as processed by the
conversion unit 107, can be stored in the bulk memory 83 consisting of
the HDU 84 or of the IC card 57. The mode indicator 46, in response to
the various operational conditions slected in the voice-c -- a state,
displays two symbols indicating the selected operational state in the
positions VII and VIII, as well as indicating that the bulk memory has
been activated.
~ he bulk memory 83 is divided up into partitions having several
locations, abl~ to store a specifia verbal s- nra as a -.ssage, and the
electronic unit 34 controls a pointer a~ app~op iate in order to access
each partition of the memory and sequential locations within the
selected partition in order to access various parts o~ the message. The
mode indicator 46 is able to display, in the position III-VII, time
; nf. ~ ~ion in minutes and seconds, relating to the verbal _ a~
already proceFse~l~ in the state indicated in the positions VII and VIII.
The presetting keys 97 comprise rewind a RW key lll to move the
pointer quickly ~rom a current location in the memory 83 back to
preceding locations, a PAUSE key 112 to stop recording or playback of
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2~90~82
the verbal ,~ n~q, a STOP key 113 to put the computer into a state of
re~t, stopping recording or playback of the verbal c~ n~c, a record
(P~C) key 114 to record a verbal ,o. n~ starting from the current
locatio~ in the m~mory 83, a PL~Y key 11~ to play back verbal c -- a_
starting from the current location and a fast forw~rd (FP) key 117 to
move the pointer ~uickly Eorward to subseguent locations in the memory,
in a way similar to the way in which a magnetic tape recorder/player is
operated. Tha keys 111, 112, 114, 116 and 117 are substantially ~1 ign~d
with 2ach other, parallel to a plane of ~y ~y of the surface 96 of
the lid 33. These keys are positioned approximately 45 mm from the ~ront
edge of the lid 33, to enable the operator to operate them using the
fingers of the hand holding the computer 31.
Routines 118, 119, 121, 122, 123 and 124 which ~yond when the
six keys 97 are depressed are provided in the ROM 66 o~ the electronic
unit 34, in order to activate respective fast rewind, pause, stop,
record with ins~rtion, playback and fastforward functions, preset by
actuating the RW, PAUSE~ STOP, REC/ PLAY and FF keys respectively. The
indicator 46 will display the bulk memory symbol in the position I and
the symbols RW, PA, ST, IN, PL and FF in ~he positions VII and VIII,
accordingly, to indicate the activated key. Moreover, the routine 119
responds to repeated pressing o~ the FF key 112 to move the pointer
quickly on to the last location of the selected partition and the
routine 122 Le~onds guickly baak to the first location of the memory
partition.
The routine 119 e~onds to th0 PLAY key 111 and the FF key 112
being pressed simult~n~ollqly to ~orward (with sc~nn~ng) the pointer at a
speed only slightly ~aster than the playback speed and displays this
state using the symbols FS in the positions VII and VIII on the
indicator 46. The routine 122 in turn responds to the PLAY key 11 and
the RW key 114 being pressed simultaneously to move the pointer back
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20!3~82
(with scanning) ak a speed only slightly faster than the play back speed
and displays this state using tha symbols RS on the indicator 46.
Finally, the routine 123 responds to the PLAY key 111 and the REC key
116 being pressed si~ultaneously to overwrite verbal Sl 1~ on
existing recordings, starting from the current location, and indicates
this state using the symbols OW.
The ~ Le~ 31 stores a series of ~ q for personal
pLOy ~ in the ROM 66, so as to extend its functional range. These
are as follows.
NOTES: for word processing;
CALC : for performing algebraic operations as in a calculator;
DIARY: for recording and reviewing appointments, plAnn;ng daily
or weekly activities, together with a CA1 ~n~r function;
~r DR~qs
BOOK : for storing lists of names, addresses and te]erhone numbers
and enabling access via modem;
FILES: ~file manager) for DOS operations in Directory,
File, Locate, Info, Format and Quit;
~ARDS: fo~ using projeat lists having simple database
charac~teristics;
VOICE: for aativating the voice-: ~~' state and the functions
provided for processing verbal _~ n~q;
NENU : for presetting personalised features of the computer
relatlng to screen characteristics and function~ conaerning
energy saving.
These programs are presented as menu lirles on the screen 37 and,
a~t~r the computer has been activated, the operator can chooss the
dasired ~ O~L ~1 by moving a cursor and confirming in a manner kno~n per
se.
The keyboard 36 (Fig. 5) is similar to that of a standard
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personal computer (PC) with 102 keys (now shown in the drawings) and can
directly call up most o F the ~unctions which can be directly called up
by the keyboard of a standard PC. In par~icular, the ksyboard 36 has
sixty-four alrh~ ic character and control keys including an ENTER
key, CTRL and ALT control keys, five cursor keys 131 and one key (FN)
~or new functions 132.
The keyboard 36 also comprises a row of fourteen function keys
133, including an ESC key, ten function keys Fl-F10 and three kays:
Print, Saroll Lock and Puse, equivalent to the co .~pollding function
keys on a standard PC. Finally, a numbers keyboard 134 is provided
having an additional sixteen number and mode keys, similar to the
numbers keyboard of a standard PC, and comprising the usual Num Lock
key. Ths presettings of the functions activated by the Scroll ~ock,
Caps Lock and Num Lock keys are displayed in the positions IX-XI
re~e~Lively of the mode indicator 46.
In this way, ninety seven functions of a standard PC keyboard
can be activated directly via the keyboaxd 36. Only the function keys
FII, F12, right ALT, right CTRL and ENTER of a standard PC are ~;~sin~.
IIo~v~, thess functions can be activated by prsssing the key 132
together with the keys Fl, F2, ALT, CTRL and ENTER. In this way these
keys will respectively activate those functions which, in a standard PC,
are activated by the keys Fll, F12, right i~LT, right CT~L and the 3NTER
key of numbers keyboards.
The keys F3-F9, pressed together with ths F~ key 132,
additionally activate the ~royL NOTES, CALC, DIARY, ~nDR~qS BOOK
FILES, CARDS and VOICE respectively. The Fl key has the function of a
HELP key and the F10 key a menu _ -' function. The OP~L dtO~ may thus
also activate the voi~e-c~ ~' state of the VOICE program by pressing
the FN and F9 keys at the same time. In the VOI OE p- ~yf , the keys
F3-F8 double up for the RW, PAUSE, STOP, REC, PLAY and FF keys on the
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lid 33 so as to define the same operational conditions which can be
preset by the keys 97, while the lid 33 is in its open configuration.
The corresponding operative states of the unit 34 will be displayed in
the positions I, VII and VIII on the mode indicator 46, with the same
symbol~ already descxibed in connection with the keys 97.
The batteries 88 in the battery pacl~ 87 (Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 11 and 12) are located and enclosed in a case 151 which can be
housed in a housing 152 in the base unit 32. The battery pack 87
comprises two ter~inals 153 and 154 which can be connected to two power
supply conductors 156 and 157 to power the power supply control circuit
89 and the electronic unit 34, via two input t~ 'n~l~, A soc~et 158
connected to external power supply conductors 166 and 167 can be
connected, via a conventional jack plug 159 and a cable 161, to the
axternal power unit 93 in order to power the power supply control
circuit 89. The conductors 157 and 167 are connected to a common aarth
for the various circuits of the electronic unit 34.
The chaxging control circuit 92 also comprises a recharging
circuit 160 which can generate ths rechargi.ng current for the batteries
88 when the control circuit 92 is powered ext2rnally. A sen~or device
162 can detect the presence of the case 151 in the housing 152, so as to
make the eircuit 160 recharging current available to the rechargeable
batteries 88, through the conductors 156 and 157.
The housing 152 can al80 house a series of single,
non-reehargeable, AA-size batteries 163, as an alternative to the case
151. Inte. -'iate conduetors, indicated as a whole by the reference
164, are located in the housing 152 and axe suitably connected together
so as to connect the non-rechargeable batteries 163 in series. The
power supply conductors 156 and 157 can in turn be connected to the
opposite pole of the first and la~t batteries 163 in order to power the
power supply control circuit 89 in the ab~ence of the case 151. The
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senso~ device 162, on the other hand, canno-t detect the presencs of the
single batteries 163 and ~L~vents hazardous attempts at recharging the
non-rechargeable batteries 163.
Tha external power unit 93 and the batteries 88 or 163 are each
connected via a diode, 168 and 169 respectively, to an input t~ 'n~l
165 of the DC/DC conveter 91 and across the power supply conductors 166
and 156. The sensor device 162 controls a microswitch 170 which is
connected between the charging control circuit 92 generator 160 and the
power supply cond~ctor 156, which in turn is connected to the
rechargeable batteries 88. The device 162 in particular consists of a
lever for controlling the microswitah 170, which lever can interact with
a shoulder 171 on the case 151 so as to be closed when the case 151 is
hou~ed in the housing 152. When the power unit 93 is connected to the
mains, it can recharge the set of batteries 88 via the recharging
control circuit 92, through its current generator 160 and the
microswitch 170.
The case 151 consists of a plastic body which is
parallelepipedal in shape and hollow in order to house the rechargeable
batteries 88. The batteries 88 are cylinder NiCd batteries,
substantially AA-si~e, and have a positive pole formed by a projecting
cap and a negative pole formed by a metal hase. There are SlX batteries
88 housed in the case 151, side by side and in such a way that the
positive pole of one battery is next to the negative pole of another
battery. The six batterie~ 88 are connected together in series by five
thin conductive strips 172, each of which is soldered between the
projecting cap of one battery and the base of the adjacent battery, in a
manner known per se.
The t~rm; n~l 153 of the battery pack 87 consists of the
projecting cap of the first battery 88 positioned at one end o~ the case
151 and tha terminal 154 con~ists o~ the base of the last battery 88
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2Q9~82
positioned at the other end of the case 151. The two t~ nAFq 153 and
154 are arranged on the same face of tha battery pack 87 and the case
151 comprises grooves 173 in which the conductive strips 172 which
connect the rechargeable batteries 88 in series are housed. Two through
holes 174 and 176 enable the t~rminals 153 and 154 to make contact with
the single springs 179 and lB0 of the power supply conductors 156 and
157, which springs are shaped so as to make contact only with the
projecting cap of the first battery 88 and the base of the last battery
88 respectively.
The housing 152 o~ the base unit 32 is of rectangular cross
section and is delimited by the rear wall 41, by an inner wall 178 which
is parallel to the wall 41 and by a bottom 175. A slit 177 has b~en
made in the wall 178, in front of the control lever of the microswitch
170. Tha sho~ r 171 on the case 161 expediently consists of a peg 155
which has a rectangular cross section and projects from the same face as
the through holes 174 and 176 in ord~r to pass through the slit 177 in
the wall 178 and actuate the microswitch 170.
The int- a; ate conductors 164 comprise three strip contact~
181 and four springs 182, 183, 184 and 186 which are connected together
in pairs. The three strip contacts 181 are identical, each consisting
of a metal strip having two small projecting plates 187 and ~e
positioned in suitable groove~ 188 in the rear wall 41. The grooves 188
are sp~ced apart from each oth~r and the plates 1~ project towards the
inside of the housing 152. The two single springs 179 and 180 are in
turn positioned in suitable grooves 189 and 191 a~,dnyed at eaah end of
the inner wall 178.
The four springs 182, 183, 184 and 186 are electrically
connected in pairs so as to make up two pairs o~ springs, each pair
positioned in a groove l9Z, 193 of the inner wall 178. Furthermore, the
springs 183 and 186 are shaped so that they make contact only with the
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positive poles of the batteries 163. The grooves 192 and 193 are spaced
part from each other along the inner wall 178 and between the yrooves
189 and 191 of the single springs 179 and 180.
The single springs 179 and 180, the double springs 182, 183 and
184, 186 project towards the inside oF the hollq;ng 152 and, together
~ith the plates 187 of the strips 181 r connect the non-rechargeable
batteries 163 in series in a manner known per se. The double springs
182, 183 and 184, 186 and the strip contacts 181 ~e inserted into the
COL~ O~ ; ng grooves 192, 193 and 188 directly into the housing 152.
Whereas the single springs 179 and 180, which are p~ n~Lly connected
to the power supply conductors 156, 157 are inserted into the
correspondillg grooves 189 and 191 via two open;~ 196 and 197 made in
the bottom 175 of the housing 152.
When the case 151 i3 positioned in the houc~n~ 152, the
tensional force of the double springs 182, 183, 184, and 186 holds it
against the plates 187 in a stable position. Tha case 151 isolates the
batteries 88 and is integral with its rechargeable batteries 88; contact
with the single spring 179 is solely via the cap term; n~l 153 and
contact between the basa t~r~; n~l 154 and the other single spring 180 is
via the hole 176. The hmlq; n~ 152 iS usually closed by a conventional
lid 198 which is removable.
Five ribs 194 on the bottom 175 of the housing 152 and five ribs
195 on the lid l9B facilitate ~ t of the non r~cl.argeable
batteries 163 and can also hold the battery pack 87 in position. A
piece of tape 199 having a free end and an end f~ed to the bottom 175,
further facilitates removal of the batteries 163 or the pack 87, in a
manner known per se.
The battery pack 8? has a - ' n~l voltaga of approximately 7.2
volts, whereas the series of non-rechargeable batteries 163 has a
n~ n~l voltage of approximately 9 volt~. The external powar unit 93 is
'
20~8~
of the standard type for use with 110 to 240-volt mains voltage and can
supply a d.c. no-;n~l output voltage of 12 volt~. The power supply
control circuit 89 is in turn able to operate correctly using the three
dif~exent power supply sources: the battery pack 87, individual
battarie 163 and the external power unit 93.
When the power unit 93 is connected to the socket 158 and is
operational, the output prevails over that of the battery pack 87 or
over that of the six batteries 163 optionally inserted in the hou ing
152, and the circuit 89 will be powered solely by the power supplied by
the external power unit 93. The diode 169 p~evellLs the power unit 93
rom directly supplying current to the battery paak 87 or to the
batteries 163, without any control being exerted by the recharging
control circuit 92. In turn, the diode 168 ~ v~nLs the battery pack 87
or the batteries 163 from supplying current to the external power unit
93 if~ for examplel it is not in use or it is broken.
~ he portable computer 31 described above can there~ore be used
in self-po~_ ed mode, with the set of rechargeable batteries 88 in the
battery pack 87, with the batteries 163, or it can be powered extêrnally
from the external power unit 93 which can simultaneously recharge the
rechargeabla batteries 88.
If the portable computer 31 is to be powered using the battery
pack 87, the following method o~ operation should be adopted. The lid
198 is L~ .ed and with one hand the case 151 is positioned k~ertng it
slightly at an angle with the shoulder 171 in the slit 177. The peg 155
is inserted into the slit 177 and the case 151 is simult~n~ollqly
lowered, so that it comes to b~ housed in the housing 152. The cap
t~rm; nAl 153 comes into contact with the single spring 179 and the other
single spring 180, via the hole 176, comes into contact with the base
t~r~;n~l 154. Simultaneously, the shoulder 171 acts on the control lever
which constitutes the sensor device 162 and closes the microswitch 170.
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~91~2
.
The case 151 is postioned in the housing 152 between the double springs
182, 183, and 184, 186 and the plates 187, and is held in plaae by the
t~nsional force of the double springs 182, 183, and 184, 186. The
housing 152 is closed by means of the lid 198, and the portable computer
31, powered from the current of the rechargeable batteries 88 via the
diode 169 to the converter 91, is operational.
If the portable computer 31 is to be used with the power supply
of the external power unit 93, all that need~ to be done is to insert
the jaak plug 159 into the socket 158. The power unit 93 conveys the
current via the diode 168 to the converter 91 and simultaneously conveys
the current to ths recharging aontrol aircuit 92. If the case 151 is
housed in the housing 152, the recharging aircuit 160 will also recharge
the reahargeable batteries 88 Vid the microswitch 162.
In the event that the batteries in the battery pack 87 have run
down, and the portable computer 31 is to be used with the power supply
of the non-reahargeable batteries 163, the following method of operation
should be adopted. The lid 198 is , ~_d and the tape 199 is pulled so
aq to ~ ng~ge the case 151 from the housing 152, lifting it out. In
additition, the peg 155 is pulled out of the slit 177 which results in
the micro switch 170 being opened. The non-reahargeable batteries 163
are individually positioned inside the housing 152 between the plates
187 and ~he springs 179, 180, 182, 183 184 and 186. The housing 152 is
closed by mean-q of the lid 198 and the computer 31 is once again ready
for u8e. The microswitch 170 stays open, interrupting the circuit
connecting the batteries 163 to the generator 160. If the portable
computer 31 is to be powered with the external power unit 93, the jack
plug 159 need merely be inserted into the socket 158. The computer 31
will op0rate on the external power supply, via the diode 168, without
the batteries 163 being ~ 1 by the recharging current.
As is clear from the above description, it is very simple to
2 ~ 2
power the portable computer ter nd it is possible to transfer ~rom one
power supply to another ~uickly and easily.
With reference to Figures 1, ~ and 5 the keys have a 14 mm
pitah, approximately. It results clear that the plane of the key~o~d 36
has a first (front) fraction and a ~econd (rear) fraction. Tha
alph~ ic and control keys of the keyboard 36 fully take the first
~raction of the keyboard plane in the base unit 32 which represents a
little more than 50~ of the minor side in the keyboard plane. The
~ keyboard 134 takes a lateral portion of the rear fraction of the
keyboard plane and will result adjacent to the mode indicator 46.
The numeric keyboard 134 comprises ~our rows o~ keys, each one
of four keys. Therefore the layout o~ all the keys of the keyboard 36
will simulate very close the layout of the keys in a standard PC (apart
from the differen~e in the position of the numeric keyboard 13~), in
spite of the limited ~ io~ of the computer 31 ~210 x 148 mm).
~ he hard disk unit (HDU) 84 results adjacent to the battery
housing 152 of the base unit 32. The unit 84 is of a thin profile type
for disks of 2,5" and the numeric keyboard 134 risults o~fset with
respect to the unit 184. A portion of the side 14Z of the base unit 132
projects upwardly with respect to the keyboard plane 136 and the speaker
104 is lodged between the battery housing 152 and the projecting portion
of the side 142 for a space optimization of the base unit 32.
It is understood that the portable computer 31, the case 151
with tha set of rechargeable batteries 88, the h~ ;ng 152, the
ininte. ~ te conductors 164, the conductive strips 172 and the
external power unit 93 may undergo various changes and ; ~v~ s,
with respect ot both shape and arr~n~, Ls of the vaious parts, without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
- 20 -
