Patent Application
20080174270
The present invention relates generally to batteries and chargers for laptop computers.
The conveniences afforded by the portability of battery-powered laptop computers can be frustrated in part by the need for the user to carry with him an external battery charger to ensure that the laptop batteries do not run low during, e.g., important meetings or other events. Typically, the battery charger is a brick-like object that has two cords, one for plugging into an AC electrical socket and the other for plugging into the laptop to recharge the battery of the laptop. The present invention recognizes that it can be cumbersome and inconvenient to have to carry this additional device along with the laptop, and furthermore that if the user forgets to bring the charger, the laptop can become inoperable at remote locations in which the user desires to use the laptop. With these critical observations in mind, the invention herein is provided.
A portable computer has a screen member holding a computer monitor and a base member bearing an array of computer keys. The base member is hingedly engaged with the screen member for movement between a closed configuration, wherein the screen member and base member are substantially flush against each other with the monitor and array not being exposed to a user, and an open configuration, wherein the screen member is not substantially flush with the base member and the monitor and array are exposed to a user. A battery housing is removably engageable with the base member or screen member. The housing holds a battery and an AC to DC converter such that the converter is internal to the housing. The converter is electrically connected or connectable to a power cord having a first plug configured for engaging an AC power outlet, so that the converter can convert AC power to DC to charge the battery. With this arrangement, no electrical cord external to the housing is required to connect the converter to the battery.
In some implementations the cord has a second plug configured for engaging a socket on the housing. In other implementations the cord has an end opposite the first plug, with the end being disposed in the housing and not being configured for manual removal therefrom by a user.
The housing can be formed from a unitary piece of plastic, and can be slidably engageable with a bay in the base member. If desired, the base member or the screen member can be formed with a cord receptacle such that the cord can be stowed in the receptacle when not in use.
In another aspect, a battery assembly for a computer includes a housing, a battery in the housing, and an AC to DC converter in the housing and electrically connected and/or connectable to the battery. A power cord is connected and/or is connectable to the housing and to an AC power outlet to provide AC power to the converter. Also, an electrical connector is on the housing and is configured for engaging a complementarily-shaped connector on the computer to electrically engage the battery with at least one component in the computer.
In still another aspect, a method is disclosed for providing power to a portable computer. The method includes rigidly engaging a battery with a battery charging power converter, and while the battery is rigidly engaged with the battery charging power converter, sliding the battery into a bay of the portable computer to power the computer. While the battery is in the bay and rigidly engaged with the battery charging power converter, the battery may be charged by electrically connecting the battery charging power converter to an AC outlet.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
Referring to
The converter 20 can be connected to an AC power outlet by a cord 24. One end of the cord 24 terminates in a plug 26 that is configured for plugging into an AC outlet, while the opposite end of the cord 24 is permanently engaged with the housing 16 and is connected to the converter 20. Or, the cord 24 can be engageable and disengageable with the housing 16 manually by hand by the user by configuring the cord 24 with a battery plug 28 that in turn is configured for engaging a power receptacle 30 in the housing 16 as shown.
In accordance with principles known in the art, the screen member 32 can be pivoted against the base member 38 to establish a closed configuration, wherein the screen member 32 and base member 38 are substantially flush against each other as shown in
As best shown in
If desired, the computer 12 may be formed with a cord receptacle, with the cord 24 being stowable in the receptacle when not in use. The receptacle may be covered by a hinged door 64 as shown in
With the above combination of structure, it may now be appreciated that a user of the system 10 need only engage the battery module 14 with the computer 12 and need not carry an external battery charger along. Instead, the user need only plug the cord 24 into an AC outlet when it is necessary to charge the battery 18. When the battery module 14 is removable from the computer 12, it can be removed by a user and charged during periods when the computer is not in use, although owing to the inventive advantages disclosed herein the battery module 14 need never be removed from the bay 54 to charge the battery, nor is any power converter that is external to the module 14 necessary. Further, no electrical cord that is external to the battery module 14 is required to connect the converter 20 to the battery 18.
While the particular INTEGRATED BATTERY AND CHARGER FOR LAPTOP COMPUTER is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.
