Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Computer power control – Power conservation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-30
2001-03-13
Ray, Gopal C. (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Computer power control
Power conservation
C713S323000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202162
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data processing system in which a first data-processing device such as a portable terminal unit can be attached to a second data-processing device so that the first data-processing device is used as a part of an operating section of the second data-processing device, and more particularly, to a data processing system wherein the second data-processing device can stably supply the first data-processing device with a stabilized power in the controlled state.
A known example of a second data-processing device for executing data-processing operation according to processing data input through an operating section is a digital color copying machine that performs specified processing operations on data of an original color image input through an image-inputting unit such as a scanner, then outputs the original color image reproduced according to the processed image data through the color printer section.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-145673 discloses a data-processing system for a digital color copying machine, which system allows the copying machine to work by processing data according to parameters preset and input from the second operating means such as an external universal personal computer or the like. Furthermore, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-6451 discloses a copying machine that has a removable operating portion and works according to the operation mode and data preset in the operating portion.
Till now, there been thus proposed data-processing systems each consisting of two separate data-processing devices, one (the second) of which performs data-processing operation according to processing data (operating mode data) input from the other (first) device. The first device, which is an external device to the second device, may be a so-called mobile computer.
However, the conventional image processing systems have no consideration of power supply problem for first and second data-processing devices from the view point of saving in power consumption and protecting data in the first data-processing device. Particularly, a data-processing system in which the first data-processing device is a portable terminal operating always on its inner battery for transmitting the data to the second data-processing device, cannot operate for a long time due to the battery capacity of the first device.
An attempt to solve the above problem by supplying power from the second data-processing device to the portable terminal arises another problem that data stored in the terminal may be broken by unintentional disconnection between the data-processing device and the terminal due to unmatched stating and ending procedures at both devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a data-processing system composed of the first data-processing device such as a portable terminal and the second data-processing device working as connected with the first device, which system allows the second data-processing device to conduct the control of transmission of data from and to the first data-processing device as well as the control of power supply to the first data-processing device which may be thus used with no fear of no power supply and losing data stored therein.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system for transmitting data between a first data-processing device for accepting operation of inputting processing data and a second data-processing device for executing processing according to the input processing data, which is featured in that the first data-processing device is provided with a power saving function for disconnecting a power supply when input waiting time of the first data-processing device exceeds a specified time and a function for inactivating the power saving function while the first and second data-processing devices are coupled with each other.
In the above data-processing system, the first data-processing device connected with the second data-processing device cannot be deenergized by a power-saving function effected when the first data-processing device did not receive an input signal within a predetermined period. Therefore, this system can reliably work with no fear of sudden interruption of power supply to the first data-processing device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system, wherein the first data-processing device stores a plurality of programs relating the operation of inputting data for processing and a part of the programs is inhibited to execute while the first and second data-processing devices are connected with each other.
This system can thus work without applying any excessive load of programs to the second data-processing device by inhibiting to drive unnecessary programs stored in the first data-processing device during the connection being maintained between the first and second devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system, wherein the second data-processing device is provided with a single or plural inputting members having functions common to the processing-data inputting members of the first data-processing device and operations of the common-function inputting member(s) of either of both devices are allowed while the first and second data-processing devices are connected with each other.
The above data-processing system composed of the first and second data-processing devices can selectively use ones of the common-function inputting members, eliminating the possibility of excessive data inputting by the same functions of both devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system, wherein the first data-processing device is provided with an internal power supply source, the second data-processing device is provided with a plurality of power supply portions, and the first data-processing device is supplied with power from either of the internal power supply or any one of plural power supply portions based upon the detected state of the first data-processing device.
In the above data-processing system, the first data-processing device is supplied with electric power from either its internal power-supply source or a power-supply source of the second data-processing device, which source is selectable in view of the current condition of the power supply of the second data-processing device. Namely, the first data-processing device can be powered suitably from the adapted power supply source.
An another object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system, wherein the first data-processing device is provided with a rechargeable internal power-supply source that is recharged from the power supply portion of the second data-processing device while the first and second data-processing devices are connected with each other.
In the above data-processing system, the inner battery of the first data-processing device can be charged from the power supply source of the second data-processing device. This enables the first data-processing device to work separately while the system operates with the second data-processing device only.
An another object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system, wherein the second data-processing device can detect a state of connection between the first and second data-processing devices and provides the first data-processing device with a signal for switching off the power supply when the connection is removed.
In the above data-processing system composed of the first and second data-processing device, the first data-processing device executes the power supply switching-off procedure according to an instruction from the second data-processing device every time when the first data-processing device is disconnected from the second data-processing device. This eliminates the possibility of causing the first data-processing device to accept the data inputting operation whenever incorrect or insufficient connection arises between the first a
Fukushima Tamotsu
Gomi Kenichi
Honda Yoshitaka
Katamoto Koji
Matsuda Hideo
Ray Gopal C.
Renner , Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
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