Portable electronic apparatus having an interchangeable detachable battery and optional component for expanding a function
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
InventorsTakaichi Kobayashi, Mitsuhiro Yoshida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable computer comprises a base unit to which a keyboard and a display unit are attached. First and second batteries, functioning as a drive power source, and are attached to the base unit. An optional component may be attached to the base unit in place of the second battery. The optional component, for example, can be a modem device to be connected to a telephone line or an additional memory unit. In the base unit, there is formed a first mounting recess to which the first battery is detachably attached, and a second mounting recess to which the second battery or the optional component is selectively detachably attached.
Claims7
A portable electronic apparatus receiving at least one of first and second batteries, said apparatus comprising:
- an optional component having a first connector disposed therein;
- a base unit having a first mounting recess therein disposed to receive said first battery and a second mounting recess therein disposed to selectably receive one of said second battery and said optional component, said optional component replacing said second battery in said second recess when said optional component is positioned in said second recess, said second mounting recess comprising at least one contact piece extending therefrom for contacting said second battery when said second battery is positioned therein and a front surface having a connector insertion hole therein, said connector insertion hole being disposed away from said at least one contact piece;
- a second connector disposed in said base unit, said first connector opposing said connector insertion hole when said optional component is positioned in said second mounting recess;
- and
- an adapter unit, detachably coupled to said first connector and projecting from said optional component, said adapter unit inserting into said connector insertion hole and coupling to said second connector when said optional component is positioned in said second mounting recess.
A portable computer, comprising:
- base unit comprising a front portion having a keyboard attached thereto and a rear portion having a first mounting recess and a second mounting recess therein, said first mounting recess having a first back surface, a first bottom surface integral with a portion of said first back surface, and at least one first contact piece disposed at said first back surface, said second mounting recess having a second back surface, a second bottom surface integral with a portion of said second back surface, at least one second contact piece disposed at said second back surface, a connector insertion hole formed proximate to said at least one second contact piece;
- a first connector disposed in said base unit;
- a first battery, detachably mounting in said first mounting recess, and comprising at least one first terminal plate, each of said at least one first terminal plate contacting a corresponding one of said at least one first contact piece when said first battery mounts in said first mounting recess;
- a second battery, selectably detachably mounting in said second mounting recess, and comprising at least one second terminal plate, each of said at least one second terminal plate contacting a corresponding one of said at least one second contact piece when said second battery mounts in said second mounting recess;
- an optional component, detachably and selectably mounting in said second mounting recess in place of said second battery, comprising a case having an opening therein opposing said connection insertion hole when said optional component mounts in said second mounting recess and a second connector disposed in said case opposing said opening;
- and
- an adapter detachably coupled to said second connector and having a portion projecting from said case through said opening, said portion inserting into said connector insertion hole and coupling to said first connector when said optional component mounts in said second mounting recess.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.