Abstract: A method for improving safety of voltage regulator is disclosed. In order to improve safety of a voltage regulator, a MOS-FET is disposed on a source power lane that receives power supplied from a DC power supply. A set of voltage regulators is connected to a set of fork power lanes, correspondingly, branching off from the source power lane. PTC thermistors are disposed on a surface or in the vicinity of semiconductor chips of the voltage regulators. When temperature at any one of the PTC thermistors increases, a protection controller turns off the MOS-FET. When temperature detected by a temperature sensor incorporated within the semiconductor chip has increased, each of the voltage regulators turns off the MOS-FET via a base management controller.

Abstract: A portable information device is provided. The portable information device includes a first chassis and a second chassis, a display, a back part and a movable back plate. The display, which is configured to be foldable in half, is disposed over inner faces of the first and second chassis. The back part, includes a movable hinge configured to join the first and second chassis rotatably. When the first and second chassis are folded towards each other, the movable hinge moves on the inner faces of the chassis in a direction from open ends of the chassis to the back part that is located on an opposite side of the open ends. The movable back plate configured to support a rear face of the display at a part corresponding to the back part. When the first and second chassis are folded towards each other, the movable back plate moves in a direction from the open ends to the back part together with the movable hinge.

Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a link mechanism provided in a body chassis and configured to operate in linkage with a rotational moving operation for rotationally moving a display chassis relative to a body chassis by a hinge mechanism and a drive wire that is a drive member configured to couple between the link mechanism and a keyboard unit and operate in linkage with the link mechanism, thereby to change relative height positions between a key top and a frame, in which the drive wire is extended to the outside of the keyboard unit through an insertion port formed in a side wall of a base plate and is coupled with the link mechanism and the body chassis includes a drainage passage at a position located under the insertion port.

Abstract: A chassis structure is disclosed. A chassis includes a plate-like body in which a foam layer is located between a pair of fiber-reinforced resin plates, and a frame body formed of a thermoplastic resin and joined to a peripheral portion of the plate-like body. The plate-like body is configured such that its peripheral portion is formed by an ear-like joint portion where the pair of fiber-reinforced resin plates are joined together without the foam layer located therebetween, thereby sealing the foam layer inside the pair of fiber-reinforced resin plates. The frame body is joined to the plate-like body in a state where the frame body is in contact with the joint portion.

Abstract: An electronic device having a member for chassis is disclosed. The member for chassis includes a surface layer, a rear layer disposed inside of the surface layer in a thickness direction, and an intermediate layer disposed between the surface layer and the rear layer. Each of the surface layer and the rear layer includes a fiber-reinforced resin plate. The intermediate layer is made of a material that is compressible in the thickness direction. The member for chassis further includes a fastening hole that penetrates through the surface layer, the intermediate layer and the rear layer, through which a fastener passes to fix the member for chassis to a member for attachment. The surface layer includes a cut line having a larger diameter than the fastening hole in order to surround the fastening hole.

Abstract: A stand assembly for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The stand assembly enables the portable electronic device to stand horizontally and vertically, as well as standing at an angle. The stand assembly includes a first arm swingably provided by a first hinge on a rear surface side of a chassis, a second arm swingably provided by a second hinge on the rear surface side of the chassis. The stand assembly also includes a connecting section that connects the first arm to the second arm 12, with the second arm being longer than the first arm.

Abstract: A keyboard device is disclosed. The keyboard device includes a base, a key top, a film actuator, a position sensor, and a controller. The key top is movably arranged on the upper surface side of the base. Disposed between the base and the key top, the film actuator bends according to an applied voltage. Also disposed between the base and the key top, the position sensor detects a position of the key top. The controller applies a voltage to the film actuator in order to generate a repulsive force corresponding to the position of the key top detected by the position sensor.

Abstract: A power system within a portable electronic device is disclosed. In order to discharge electricity stored in a rechargeable battery within the portable electronic device to a discharge cutoff voltage, a charge booster charges the rechargeable battery with electric power coming from an AC/DC adaptor. When the AC/DC adaptor is detached, the charge booster performs boosting operation to supply power to a load from the rechargeable battery. The charge booster operates only when input voltage of the load decreases. A direct discharge circuit operates in conjunction with the charge booster, and when the charge booster does not perform any boosting operation, electric power is supplied directly from the rechargeable battery to a DC/DC converter. The charge booster can keep the input voltage of the DC/DC converter until the voltage reaches a discharge cutoff voltage of the rechargeable battery, and then stops operation when electric power is being supplied from the direct discharge circuit.

Abstract: A portable computer capable of protecting an encryption key that is sent out to a disk drive after a preboot process has ended is disclosed. The portable computer includes a disk drive for encrypting a volume as a whole, and for decoding data at the volume in response to a receipt of an encryption key from a system. The portable computer also includes a key transfer mechanism, a tamper detection mechanism and a protecting mechanism. In response to a boot process starting from a power-off state, the key transfer mechanism automatically sends the encryption key to the disk drive. The tamper detection mechanism detects a physical tampering of the disk drive. In response to a detection of a physical tampering by the tamper detection mechanism, the protecting mechanism prevents an operation of automatically sending the encryption key to the disk drive by the key transfer mechanism.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a receptacle for connecting to a plug is disclosed. The receptacle is located on an outer surface of a chassis of the electronic apparatus. The plug includes a male-side plate-like member having a signal terminal disposed therein is contained in a metal case. The receptacle includes a female-side plate-like member having a signal terminal disposed therein. The female-side plate-like member is configured to protrude from or retreat into the outer surface of the chassis. The plug is connected to the female-side plate-like member at a protruding position at which the female-side plate-like member protrudes from the outer surface of the chassis.