U.S. patent application number 10/329369 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for portable electronic apparatus with replaceable built-in external power supply module.
This patent application is currently assigned to COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Cheng, Chih-Chuan, Chuang, Wei-Pin.
Application Number | 20040095712 10/329369 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32295201 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040095712 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chuang, Wei-Pin ; et
al. |
May 20, 2004 |
PORTABLE ELECTRONIC APPARATUS WITH REPLACEABLE BUILT-IN EXTERNAL
POWER SUPPLY MODULE
Abstract
An electronic apparatus includes a housing, a circuit unit, and
an external power supply module. The housing is formed with a
circuit receiving space and a module receiving space. The circuit
unit is disposed in the circuit receiving space. A set of first
contacts is disposed in the module receiving space, and is coupled
electrically to the circuit unit. The external power supply module
is removably disposed in the module receiving space, and is
provided with a set of second contacts to connect electrically with
the first contacts so as to enable the external power supply module
to supply electric power to the circuit unit when the external
power supply module is disposed in the module receiving space.
Inventors: |
Chuang, Wei-Pin; (Taipei
City, TW) ; Cheng, Chih-Chuan; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Assignee: |
COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.
Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
32295201 |
Appl. No.: |
10/329369 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/203 20130101;
G06F 1/26 20130101; G06F 1/1616 20130101; G06F 1/1635 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/679 |
International
Class: |
H05K 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 15, 2002 |
TW |
091218419 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A portable electronic apparatus comprising: a housing formed
with a circuit receiving space and a module receiving space; a
circuit unit disposed in said circuit receiving space; a set of
first contacts disposed in said module receiving space and coupled
electrically to said circuit unit; and an external power supply
module removably disposed in said module receiving space, said
external power supply module being provided with a set of second
contacts to connect electrically with said first contacts so as to
enable said external power supply module to supply electric power
to said circuit unit when said external power supply module is
disposed in said module receiving space.
2. The portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said external power supply module is adapted to convert AC power to
DC power that is supplied to said circuit unit, said external power
supply module having a module case provided with a cable connector,
said housing being formed with a cable hole that is aligned with
said cable connector of said external power supply module when said
external power supply module is disposed in said module receiving
space, said portable electronic apparatus further comprising an
electrical cable having a first end adapted to be connected to an
AC power source and a second end extended into said module
receiving space through said cable hole to connect electrically and
removably with said cable connector of said external power supply
module when said external power supply module is disposed in said
module receiving space.
3. The portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said external power supply module includes a module case formed
with vent holes, and a heat-dissipating fan mounted on said module
case.
4. The portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein
said housing is formed with vent holes that are in fluid
communication with said module receiving space.
5. The portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said housing is formed with a detachable panel that permits access
to said module receiving space for installing and removing said
external power supply module from said module receiving space.
6. A portable computer comprising: a housing formed with a circuit
receiving space, a module receiving space, and a cable hole for
access to said module receiving space; a circuit unit disposed in
said circuit receiving space; a set of first contacts disposed in
said module receiving space and coupled electrically to said
circuit unit; an external power supply module removably disposed in
said module receiving space, said external power supply module
having a module case provided with a set of second contacts for
contacting said first contacts so as to establish electrical
connection between said external power supply module and said
circuit unit when said module case is disposed in said module
receiving space, said external power supply module being adapted to
convert AC power to DC power that is supplied to said circuit unit
through said first and second contacts when said module case is
disposed in said module receiving space, said module case being
further provided with a cable connector that is aligned with said
cable hole when said module case is disposed in said module
receiving space; and an electrical cable having a first end adapted
to be connected to an AC power source and a second end extended
into said module receiving space through said cable hole to connect
electrically and removably with said cable connector of said
external power supply module when said module case is disposed in
said module receiving space, thereby permitting supply of AC power
to said external power supply module.
7. The portable computer as claimed in claim 6, wherein said module
case is formed with vent holes, and said external power supply
module further includes a heat-dissipating fan mounted on said
module case.
8. The portable computer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
housing is formed with vent holes that are in fluid communication
with said module receiving space.
9. The portable computer as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
housing is formed with a detachable panel that permits access to
said module receiving space for installing and removing said module
case from said module receiving space.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese application
no. 091218419, filed on Nov. 15, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a portable electronic apparatus,
more particularly to a portable electronic apparatus having a
replaceable built-in external power supply module.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional portable electronic
apparatus 8, such as a notebook computer, is usually powered by an
internal battery (not shown) or by an external power supply module
9. Since the capacity of the internal battery only permits
operation of the apparatus 8 for a few hours, which is insufficient
for long durations of use, the external power supply module 9 has
thus become an essential component of the apparatus 8. However,
since the external power supply module 9 of the conventional
apparatus 8 is a separate accessory, inconveniences arise when the
user brings the apparatus 8 with him when going on a trip.
Particularly, the separate external power supply module 9 increases
the bulk of the apparatus 8, and can be easily misplaced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a portable electronic apparatus having a replaceable built-in
external power supply module so as to overcome the aforesaid
drawbacks associated with the prior art.
[0007] Accordingly, a portable electronic apparatus of the present
invention comprises:
[0008] a housing formed with a circuit receiving space and
[0009] a module receiving space;
[0010] a circuit unit disposed in the circuit receiving space;
[0011] a set of first contacts disposed in the module receiving
space and coupled electrically to the circuit unit; and
[0012] an external power supply module removably disposed in the
module receiving space, the external power supply module being
provided with a set of second contacts to connect electrically with
the first contacts so as to enable the external power supply module
to supply electric power to the circuit unit when the external
power supply module is disposed in the module receiving space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional portable
electronic apparatus with an external power supply module;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
a portable electronic apparatus according to the present invention;
and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the
preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, the portable electronic apparatus
according to the present invention is embodied in a portable
computer 100 that includes a housing 1 and an external power supply
module 3 adapted to be disposed in the housing 1. The housing 1
includes first and second portions that are hinged together. The
first portion, which is provided with manual input devices, such as
a keyboard 11 and a touch-control pad 12, has a circuit unit 2
disposed in a circuit-receiving space thereof for controlling
operations of the portable computer 100. The second portion is
provided with a liquid crystal display panel 13.
[0018] With further reference to FIG. 3, the first portion of the
housing 1 of the portable computer 100 is further formed with a
module receiving space 10 and a detachable panel 14 that permits
access to the module receiving space 10 for installing and removing
the external power supply module 3 from the module receiving space
10. A set of first contacts 21 is disposed in the module receiving
space 10 and is coupled electrically to the circuit unit 2.
[0019] The external power supply module 3 is adapted to convert AC
power to DC power that is to be supplied to the circuit unit 2. The
external power supply module 3 has a module case 30 corresponding
in size to the module receiving space 10 and provided with a cable
connector 32 that is aligned a cable hole 15 in the first portion
of the housing 1 when the module case 30 of the external power
supply module 3 is disposed in the module receiving space 10. The
module case 30 of the external power supply module 3 is further
provided with a set of second contacts 31 for contacting the first
contacts 21 so as to establish electrical connection between the
external power supply module 3 and the circuit unit 2 such that the
external power supply module 3 is able to supply electric power to
the circuit unit 2 when the module case 30 of the external power
supply module 3 is disposed in the module receiving space 10.
[0020] The portable computer 100 further includes an electrical
cable 33 having a first end adapted to be connected to an AC power
source, and a second end extended into the module receiving space
10 through the cable hole 15 to connect electrically and removably
with the cable connector 32 of the external power supply module 3
when the module case 30 of the external power supply module 3 is
disposed in the module receiving space 10.
[0021] In operation, AC power supplied to the external power supply
module 3 through the electrical cable 33 is converted into DC power
that is provided in turn to the circuit unit 2 through the first
and second contacts 21, 31.
[0022] Furthermore, since the external power supply module 3 is
installed inside the housing 1 and will inevitably generate heat
during operation, the module case 30 of the external power supply
module 3 is formed with vent holes 35, and a heat-dissipating fan
34 is mounted on the module case 30. Correspondingly, the housing 1
is formed with vent holes 16 that are in fluid communication with
the module receiving space 10. Therefore, heat generated by the
external power supply module 3 can be dissipated accordingly.
[0023] Since the external power supply module 3 is mounted
removably inside the housing 1, there is no need for the user to
carry the external power supply module 3 separately from the
portable computer 100, thereby overcoming the aforesaid
shortcomings of the prior art.
[0024] Moreover, since the external power supply module 3 is in the
form of a replaceable module, tested electronic apparatus 8 can be
exported to different countries without the external power supply
module 3. Thereafter, an external power supply module 3 tested and
certified by a local authority of the importing country can be
installed in the module receiving space 10 to yield a final
product. In this manner, production time and domestic certification
of products can be greatly reduced.
[0025] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *