Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a discharge of a battery pack that supplies power to a portable electronic device. The battery pack has one or more cell blocks each having a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel. The method includes the following steps. Determining, for each of the one or more cell blocks, a value of a first supply current flowing through a first battery cell that has the smallest capacity among the plurality of battery cells. Comparing, for each of the one or more cell blocks, the value of the first supply current with a first overcurrent value of the first battery cell to detect overcurrent in the first battery cell. Generating, in response to detecting the overcurrent in the first battery cell of any of the one or more cell blocks, a first overcurrent signal to reduce the power supplied to the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A screw fixing portion of an electronic apparatus includes a screw, a screw hole formed in a bottom cover to insert the screw therethrough, a stud provided on a top cover to be threaded with the screw, a substrate hole through which the screw is inserted at a point interposed between the bottom cover and the stud at a main substrate, a conductive sponge interposed between the bottom cover and the main substrate and provided around the screw, and a contact pair which is arranged opposite to each other so as to surround the substrate hole on the surface of the main substrate and contacts and conducts with the conductive sponge by fastening the screw.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a discharge of a battery pack that supplies power to a portable electronic device. The battery pack has one or more cell blocks each having a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel. The method includes the following steps. Determining, for each of the one or more cell blocks, a value of a first supply current flowing through a first battery cell that has the smallest capacity among the plurality of battery cells. Comparing, for each of the one or more cell blocks, the value of the first supply current with a first overcurrent value of the first battery cell to detect overcurrent in the first battery cell. Generating, in response to detecting the overcurrent in the first battery cell of any of the one or more cell blocks, a first overcurrent signal to reduce the power supplied to the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A method for controlling a charging of a battery pack for a portable electronic device. The battery pack includes one or more cell blocks, each having a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel. The method includes the following steps. Determining, for each of the one or more cell blocks, a value of a first charging current flowing through a first battery cell that has the smallest capacity among the plurality of battery cells. Comparing, for each of the one or more cell blocks, the value of the first charging current with a first overcurrent value of the first battery cell to detect overcurrent in the first battery cell. Generating, in response to detecting the overcurrent in the first battery cell of any of the one or more cell blocks, a first overcurrent signal to reduce a total charging current of the battery pack.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling power efficiency of an information processing device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a voltage converter that converts an input voltage into a predetermined output voltage, an information processing device that consumes power supplied by the voltage converter, a battery pack that is charged using power supplied at a predetermined charging voltage by the voltage converter, and a controller that determines the input voltage where the power supplied by the voltage converter exceeds power consumed by the information processing device and a difference between the input voltage and the predetermined charging voltage is minimized. A method and a system also perform various functions of the apparatus.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a first power source generation unit configured to generate a first voltage lower than a predetermined supply voltage based on at least power supplied from a battery, from a supply voltage power source of the predetermined supply voltage, and output the first voltage as a first voltage power source; a second power source generation unit configured to generate a second voltage lower than the first voltage and used when at least a system is activated, and output the second voltage as a second voltage power source; and a power source switching unit configured to switch the supply voltage power source with the first voltage power source to supply the first voltage power source to the second power source generation unit, and cause the second power source generation unit to generate the second voltage power source from the first voltage power source.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a first power source generation unit configured to generate a first voltage lower than a predetermined supply voltage based on at least power supplied from a battery, from a supply voltage power source of the predetermined supply voltage, and output the first voltage as a first voltage power source; a second power source generation unit configured to generate a second voltage lower than the first voltage and used when at least a system is activated, and output the second voltage as a second voltage power source; and a power source switching unit configured to switch the supply voltage power source with the first voltage power source to supply the first voltage power source to the second power source generation unit, and cause the second power source generation unit to generate the second voltage power source from the first voltage power source.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a main control unit configured to execute a process based on an operating system; an interface control unit configured to control an interface for communicating with an outside; and a rewritable non-volatile storage unit configured to store setting information of the interface and operation information which is information relating to operation of the operating system, wherein the interface control unit is configured to cause the non-volatile storage unit to store the operation information acquired, and, in response to an output request from the outside, output the operation information stored in the non-volatile storage unit by the interface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for protecting electronic devices are disclosed herein. One method includes detecting that a first connection terminal unit of a protection device is connected to an electronic apparatus to be protected, detecting that a second connection terminal unit is connected to an unknown device, and suppling source power to the electronic apparatus to be protected from the unknown device via a power supply terminal in a state where a data communication terminal is physically cut off. Apparatus, and computer program products that include and/or perform the methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling power efficiency of an information processing device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a voltage converter that converts an input voltage into a predetermined output voltage, an information processing device that consumes power supplied by the voltage converter, a battery pack that is charged using power supplied at a predetermined charging voltage by the voltage converter, and a controller that determines the input voltage where the power supplied by the voltage converter exceeds power consumed by the information processing device and a difference between the input voltage and the predetermined charging voltage is minimized. A method and a system also perform various functions of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are disclosed. The method includes detecting ambient light around an electronic device, determining whether a user is present based on the ambient light, and controlling an operation of the electronic device. The apparatus includes a component that consumes electric power, a light sensor that detects ambient light, a frequency analyzing unit that specifies a frequency component, and a control unit that determines whether a user is present and controls an operation of the component. The computer program product includes code to perform detecting ambient light around an electronic device, determining whether a user is present based on the ambient light, and controlling an operation of the electronic device.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling power efficiency of an information processing device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a voltage converter that converts a selected input voltage into a predetermined output voltage, an information processing device that uses power supplied by the voltage converter; and a controller that determines the selected input voltage based on an operating state of the information processing device where the operating state includes one or more parameters selected from fan speed, power consumption, power consumption fluctuation, processor usage, processor usage fluctuation, system temperature, sensor-specific temperature, mobility, and acceleration. A method and a system also perform various functions of the apparatus.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to suppress wasted power consumption while improving user friendliness for an on/off operation of an image projection device. An information processing apparatus includes: an orientation detection unit configured to detect the orientation of a lens of an image projection device; and a control unit configured to turn off the image projection unit or perform control not to turn on the image projection device when the lens of the image projection device is in an exposed state and when an angle between the orientation of the lens detected by the orientation detection unit and the vertical direction falls within a preset angular range.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) is disclosed. The FPCB can be employed to connect an interface card having connectors with a two-stage configuration to a connection destination of a portable information equipment. The FPCB includes a bend line located between an upper-stage terminal group and a lower-stage terminal group. The FPCB can be bent along the bend line to allow the upper-stage terminal group and the lower-stage terminal group to be mutually superimposed over each other. In addition, the upper-stage terminal group of the FPCB is connected to the upper-stage-side connector terminal group of the interface card, and the lower-stage terminal group of the FPCB is connected to the lower-stage-side connector terminal group of the interface card.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to suppress wasted power consumption while improving user friendliness for an on/off operation of an image projection device. An information processing apparatus includes: an orientation detection unit configured to detect the orientation of a lens of an image projection device; and a control unit configured to turn off the image projection unit or perform control not to turn on the image projection device when the lens of the image projection device is in an exposed state and when an angle between the orientation of the lens detected by the orientation detection unit and the vertical direction falls within a preset angular range.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are disclosed. The method includes detecting ambient light around an electronic device, determining whether a user is present based on the ambient light, and controlling an operation of the electronic device. The apparatus includes a component that consumes electric power, a light sensor that detects ambient light, a frequency analyzing unit that specifies a frequency component, and a control unit that determines whether a user is present and controls an operation of the component. The computer program product includes code to perform detecting ambient light around an electronic device, determining whether a user is present based on the ambient light, and controlling an operation of the electronic device.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) is disclosed. The FPCB can be employed to connect an interface card having connectors with a two-stage configuration to a connection destination of a portable information equipment. The FPCB includes a bend line located between an upper-stage terminal group and a lower-stage terminal group. The FPCB can be bent along the bend line to allow the upper-stage terminal group and the lower-stage terminal group to be mutually superimposed over each other. In addition, the upper-stage terminal group of the FPCB is connected to the upper-stage-side connector terminal group of the interface card, and the lower-stage terminal group of the FPCB is connected to the lower-stage-side connector terminal group of the interface card.

Abstract: A power supply circuit for a computer system includes an AC adapter designed to be connectable to the computer system and supplying power to the system, a main battery and a second battery that are designed to be connectable to the computer system and get charged with power from the AC adapter and then discharge it to supply power to the system, a charger that is a charging circuit for the main battery and/or the second battery while the main battery and/or the second battery is connected to the AC adapter with the computer system powered off, and a gate array circuit for turning off the power supply to an embedded controller.

Abstract: A power supply controller which controls a power supply unit for supplying a plurality of different voltages has a state register section which stores state values corresponding to a combination of voltages supplied by the power supply unit in the plurality of voltages, a reference clock oscillator section which oscillates a reference clock, a state value changing combination circuit which changes the state values one by one in a predetermined order to state values corresponding to a target combination of voltages when a change instruction to change the combination of voltages supplied by the power supply unit is received, and an output section which transmits the power supply unit provide the combination of voltages corresponding to the state values successively changed by the state value changing combination circuit.

Abstract: A power supply controller which controls a power supply unit for supplying a plurality of different voltages has a state register section which stores state values corresponding to a combination of voltages supplied by the power supply unit in the plurality of voltages, a reference clock oscillator section which oscillates a reference clock, a state value changing combination circuit which changes the state values one by one in a predetermined order to state values corresponding to a target combination of voltages when a change instruction to change the combination of voltages supplied by the power supply unit is received, and an output section which transmits the power supply unit provide the combination of voltages corresponding to the state values successively changed by the state value changing combination circuit.