Portable computer equipped with add-on battery

This invention relates to a portable computer, such as a notebook type personal computer, a word processor, and so on. More specially, this invention relates to a portable computer equipped with an add-on battery which can be removably fitted to the apparatus main body.

As portable computers have become more widespread in recent years, improvements have been required. For example, to improve ease of use keyboards are inclined and the size and weight of the portable computer are reduced to improve portability. To prolong the life of the battery, the battery capacity must be increased.

Previous proposals for increasing battery life while improving portability include a method which fits an add-on battery device to the portable computer, whenever necessary. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications (Kokai) No. 8-76898 and No. 8-76887 disclose a structure whereby a battery pack may be removably fitted to a portable computer. However, such a portable computer is bulkier even when the add-on battery device is not fitted than those portable computers which have a similar function but do not have the function of the add-on battery device.

One previously-considered proposal involves providing a groove and a rail so that the add-on battery device can be slidably fitted onto the portable computer. However, it has been found that with use over time such grooves and/or rails can become deformed, hindering easy fitting of the add-on battery.

In previously-proposed portable computers to improve ease of use the keyboard top is inclined at a predetermined angle by a turn-down-type tilt stand fitted to the underside of the computer. When such a turn-down-type tilt stand is used, however, a space remains between the bottom surface of the portable computer and the desk surface on which the portable computer is put when the tilt stand is turned up. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-76879 proposes providing an external memory device in such a space. However, JP 06 043965 proposes the use of an add-on battery in this space, utilizing it effectively.

In particular, when the computer is placed on a desk surface, etc, while carrying the add-on battery, the upper surface of the computer main body on which the key top and operation surface are disposed is inclined so that its front side becomes lower. Therefore, operability becomes excellent. When the add-on battery is not fitted, the portable computer main body itself can be constituted into a thin notebook type. Thus, even when the add-on battery is attached, the computer can have a thin and lightweight structure no bulkier than that of a portable computer not having the add-on battery fitting function.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-76889 discloses a connection structure for an information processing apparatus in which connector shell portions for a pair of connectors are formed on the housing of an extended unit, the shell portions and the housing having formed thereon, the shell portions being integrally molded from a resin material, and metal plating being applied to the entire surface.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable computer comprising: a portable computer body having an upper surface, a lower surface and a lower front edge thereof; an add-on battery, which battery is approximately wedge-shaped in cross-section; and mounting means for detachably mounting said add-on battery on said lower surface of the portable computer body, the wedge-shaped cross-section, of the said add-on battery corresponding in shape and size to a wedge-like space which is defined between said lower surface of the portable computer body and surface on which said portable computer body is placed, when said portable computer body is placed to be inclined about said lower front edge of the portable computer body; said portable computer body, when it is equipped with said add-on battery, being inclined in such a manner that said upper surface of said portable computer body is lower at a front edge thereof whereby a keyboard on said upper surface of the computer is inclined by not more than a predetermined non-zero angle with respect to the said surface; characterised in that said mounting means comprises: guide means including guide grooves along which said add-on battery is first guided toward said lower surface of the portable computer body and then guided forward with respect to said portable computer body; locking means for automatically locking said add-on battery to said lower surface of the portable computer body when said add-on battery is guided forward with respect to said portable computer body; and releasing means for releasing said locking means to allow said add-on battery to be removed from said portable computer body along said guide grooves.

Preferably, the lower surface of the portable computer body has a rear region and the add-on battery has the wedge-shaped portion having a shape corresponding to the wedge-like space at least at the rear portion of the lower surface of the portable computer body. While the add-on battery is fitted, the space between the back of this portable computer and the desk surface, etc, can be effectively utilized, and a function having a high packaging density can be accomplished.

The portable computer body is preferably provided at the lower surface thereof with pairs of left and right L-shaped guide grooves and the add-on battery has pairs of left and right pawls which can be fitted to the L-shaped guide grooves, respectively.

Accordingly, the add-on battery can be easily fitted and removed to and from the portable computer main body, and the add-on battery can be firmly fixed to the portable computer main body at the time of fitting.

In order to provide a portable computer having an extended station which makes it possible to mount the portable computer thereon while the add-on battery is kept fitted to the personal computer main body, an extended station on which the portable computer body is detachably mounted, while the portable computer body is equipped with the add-on battery, has a recess or an opening for accommodating therein the add-on battery. When the portable computer is mounted on the extended station, while also carrying the add-on battery, the add-on battery is accommodated inside a recess portion (or an opening) in the extended station. Therefore, the overall space can be utilized effectively, and an apparatus having a high density can be accomplished. Even when the recess portion exists in the extended station, a printed wiring board, etc, can be disposed below this recess portion and consequently, the arrangement inside the extended station can be made efficiently.

Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a portable computer embodying the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view for use in explaining the fitting and removal of an add-on battery to and from a portable computer embodying the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a portable computer embodying the present invention viewed with its bottom surface facing up;</li><li>Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of an add-on battery for use in an embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the bottom surface of Fig. 3;</li><li>Fig. 6 shows a sectional view for use in explaining the removal of an add-on battery from the portable computer of Fig. 3;</li><li>Fig. 7 shows a sectional view for use in explaining the fitting of an add-on battery to the portable computer;</li><li>Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the separated portable computer, add-on battery and an extended station;</li><li>Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the portable computer with the add-on battery fitted thereto, and the separate extended station; and</li><li>Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the portable computer carrying the add-on battery and the extended station.</li></ul>

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a portable computer is placed on a desk surface 5 while an add-on battery 4 is fitted to the computer main body 1. As shown in the drawing, the add-on battery 4 is fitted to the bottom surface of the rear part of the portable computer main body 1, and when the battery 4 is fitted, the portable computer main body 1 is inclined with the lower position of the distal end of the forward part of the main body being the axis. In consequence, the front part of the key top 2 is lower while its rear part is higher, and the input operation by the keyboard 2 becomes easy.

The add-on battery 4 has a wedge-like shape in a longitudinal direction in such a manner as to fill the space between the bottom surface of the portable computer 1 and the surface 5 on which it is placed. Therefore, under a state where the add-on battery 4 is fitted to the portable computer 1, the total capacity of the portable computer having the add-on battery fitted thereto is increased by a capacity (volume) which is approximately equal to the capacity of the add-on battery 4, and the space between the bottom surface of the portable computer 1 and the surface 5 on which this portable computer 1 is placed does not become a useless space but can be utilized effectively. Under the state where the add-on battery 4 is removed from the portable computer main body 1, on the other hand, the total capacity is reduced by a capacity approximately equal to the capacity of the add-on battery 4 in comparison to the case where it is fitted.

Fig. 2 is a schematic side view showing the fitting/removing state of the add-on battery to and from the portable computer main body 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the portable computer main body with its bottom facing up, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the add-on battery.

In Fig. 3, a rear area 11 of the bottom surface 10 of the portable computer main body 1 is defined as a fitting/removing area of the add-on battery 4. A recess portion 12 for receiving a power connector is formed inside the add-on battery fitting/removing area 11 (for example, inside an area 11a), and another power connector 13 is disposed on the internal front side of this recess portion 12. A sliding cover (not shown) is provided to the recess portion 12. When no add-on battery 4 is fitted, the recess portion 12 is closed and no power connector 13 inside the recess portion 12 can be seen from outside.

The add-on battery fitting/removing area 11 is an area 20 recessed from the bottom surface 10 of the portable computer main body 1 at portions other than both sides and front areas 11a and 11b. Two pairs of pawls 14 and 15 are formed between the center portion of the recessed area and both side areas 11a and 11b, respectively. A pair of recesses 21 are formed on both sides of the recessed area 20 for locking the add-on battery 4.

A pair of escape holes 26 for locking are further disposed on both sides of the rear surface 25 of the portable computer main body 1.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the add-on battery 4 includes a surface 30 which comes into contact with the recessed surface 20 of the portable computer main body 1, when the battery is fitted to the main body 1, and a pair of recessed surfaces 31a and 31b which are formed at front positions on both sides of this surface 30 and correspond to the areas 11a and 11b of the portable computer main body 1, respectively.

A power supply connector 33 is disposed on one recessed surface 31a in such a manner as to correspond to the power connector 13 of the portable computer main body 1 when the add-on battery 4 is fitted to the portable computer main body 1.

Two pairs of pawls 34 and 35 which correspond to the two pairs of pawls 14 and 15 on the side of the portable computer main body 1 are disposed between an area at the back of the center portion of the surface 30 of the add-on battery 4 and the pair of recessed surfaces 31a and 31b, respectively.

A pair of lock pawls 41 are disposed on both sides at the rear part of the surface 30 in such a manner as to correspond to the pair of lock recesses 21 of the portable computer main body 1. As will be later described, these lock pawls are normally biased in a projecting direction, though they can be compressed against the spring.

Furthermore, a pair of projecting pawls 46 that have an L-shaped section and protrude forward are disposed at the positions of the rear end portion of the add-on battery 4 at the back of the pair of lock pawls 41 in such a manner as to correspond to the positions of the pair of escape holes 26 for locking.

Next, the fitting operation of the add-on battery 4 to the portable computer main body 1 will now be explained. First, the main power switch (not shown) of the portable computer main body 1 is turned OFF, and any other external power source, such as an AC adaptor (not shown), is removed from the main body 1, if it has been connected to the portable computer main body 1, as is customary in the art.

The cover (not shown) of the recess 12 on the back of the portable computer main body 1 is opened, and the add-on battery 4 is moved towards the back of the portable computer main body 1 and fitted so that the power connector 33 of the add-on battery 4 can be fitted into the recess 12 of the portable computer main body 1. At this time, the pawls 34 and 35 of the add-on battery 4 are passed through the gap between the pawls 14 and 15 of the portable computer main body 1 and through the back side of the pawl 14, whereby the state shown in Fig. 7 can be attained.

Under the state shown in Fig. 7, the add-on battery 4 is pushed forward with respect to the portable computer main body 1 as indicated by an arrow C so as to fit the power connector 33 of the add-on battery 4 to the power connector 13 on the printed board 18 of the portable computer main body 1.

Consequently, the projecting portions 46 of the add-on battery 4 fit into the pair of escape holes 26 for locking on the rear surface 25 of the portable computer main body 1 and restrict movement in the vertical direction. The pair of lock pawls 41 of the add-on battery 4 are caused to project into the pair of recesses 21 of the portable computer main body 1 by respective springs 48 and lock the add-on battery 4 to the portable computer main body 1. Accordingly, movement of the add-on battery 4 is restricted back and forth with respect to the portable computer main body 1 and is locked at that position. Further, the pawls 34 and 35 of the add-on battery 4 are caught by the pawls 14 and 15 of the portable computer main body 1, respectively, and firmly fix the vertical position of the add-on battery 4 to the portable computer main body 1. When the power switch (not shown) is turned ON under this state, the add-on battery 4 can be used.

Next, removal of the add-on battery 4 from the portable computer main body 1 will now be explained. In the same way as in the fitting operation, the main power switch (not shown) of the portable computer main body 1 is first turned OFF, and any other external power source, such as the AC adaptor (not shown), if any, is removed from the personal computer main body 1.

Next, as shown in Fig. 6, a pair of lock releasing pawls 47 disposed on the rear surface of the add-on battery 4 are slid in the direction of the arrow A against the springs 48. The pair of lock releasing pawls 47 are interconnected to the pair of lock pawls 41, respectively, and operate integrally with the latter. Therefore, the pair of lock pawls 41 escape from the pair of recesses 21, respectively, of the portable computer main body 1, and the lock is thus released.

Under this state, when the add-on battery 4 is slid in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow C shown in Fig. 7 with respect to the portable computer main body 1 and is pulled down, the power connector 33 of the add-on battery 4 is removed from the power connector of the portable computer main body 1 as shown in Fig. 7, and the pair of projecting portions 46 of the add-on battery 4 leave the pair of escape holes 26 on the rear surface 25 of the portable computer main body 1.

Therefore, under the state shown in Fig. 7, the add-on battery 4 can be removed from the portable computer main body 1 by pulling the add-on battery 4 from the portable computer main body 1.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the portable computer main body 1, the add-on battery 4 and the extended station 6. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the state where the add-on battery 4 is fitted to the portable computer main body 1 and Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the state where the battery 4 and the computer main body 1 are further fitted to the extended station.

The add-on battery 4 can be fitted to and removed from the portable computer 1 as described above. Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to mount the portable computer main body 1 to the extended station while the add-on battery 4 is fitted to the computer main body 1. For this purpose, the extended station 6 is provided with a recess 61 for accommodating the add-on battery 4. Since this recess 61 is not a mere opening but is a recess having a bottom portion, a wiring pattern (not shown) such as a printed circuit board for supplying and transmitting power and signals between the front and rear areas of the extended station 6 can be disposed below this recess 61, and effective utilization of the space can be accomplished.

By the way, when the portable computer main body 1 is fitted to the extended station 6, a connector 17 (see Fig. 5) disposed on the back of the portable computer main body 1 fits to the connector 62 of the extended station 6, and electrical connection is established between them.

Speakers 63 are disposed on both sides of the front portion of the extended station 6. These speakers 63 are inclined downward towards both side edges. Therefore, thin speakers 63 can be effectively disposed. When the portable computer main body 1 is fitted, the back of the main body 1 comes into contact with the upper surface 64 of the extended station 6. However, since the speakers 63 on both sides are inclined, gaps are defined between the portions of the speakers 63 and the back surface of the portable computer main body 1, and the speaker sound can be effectively diffused.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as described above, when the portable computer, having the add-on battery fitted thereto, is placed on a desk surface, etc, the upper surface of the portable computer main body is inclined in such a fashion that its front portion becomes lower. Therefore, operability is improved. When no add-on battery is fitted, the portable computer main body is the size of a thin notebook type computer. Thus, even though it permits the fitting of an add-on battery, a portable computer embodying the present invention can have a portability equivalent to that of portable computers not having the add-on battery fitting function. In the state where the add-on battery is fitted, the gap between the back of the portable computer and the desk surface, etc, can be effectively utilized, and a function having a high packaging density can be accomplished.

The add-on battery can easily be fitted to and removed from the portable computer main body and can be firmly fixed to the main body at the time when it is fitted, and its fitting/removing operation can be done stably for a long time.

In a type which is equipped with the extended station, if the portable computer main body having the add-on battery mounted thereto is fitted to this extended station, the add-on battery can be accommodated inside the recess portion of the extended station. Therefore, the space can be effectively utilized as a whole, and an apparatus having a high density can be accomplished. Even though the recess portion exists in the extended station, a printed wiring board, etc, can be disposed below this recess portion, and the internal arrangement inside the extended station can efficiently be made.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description relates only to preferred embodiments of the disclosed invention, and that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention in accordance with the followings claims.