Handtops, UMPC - Proprietary power supply?

10/11/04 + vadsoom

Greetings,

Do any of you with hands-on OQO experience have any knowledge about the power supply? Will the OQO require it's own or will an off-the-shelf replacment function?

Like some PDAs, is it possible to charge the OQO through it's USB port?

Thanks in advance!

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10/11/04 + Chekote

I have no hands on experience with the OQO, but I am pretty certain that it cant be charged through the USB port.

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10/11/04 + garylm

I think at CES they were charging the UPC through the docking cradle. Now we are hearing that the docking cradle has been changed. So I don't know what the power connection will be. It was an unfamiliar-looking five-pin connector on the front edge.

I was concerned that it was not obvious how spare batteries might be charged without being attached to the UPC.

Recent Blog: Travelling With the OQO

10/11/04 + GenM

The Docking Cable has a power-in port. Don't know if it requires a proprietary connector or not.

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10/12/04 + ch2s

While it might not be able to charge from its own usb port (it is the "usb" port on pocket pcs normally because thats the only port so power goes through there as well), nothing stops anyone from making a usb to [OQO's proprietary power connector] adapter to allow it to charge from another computer's USB port. But with the power the OQO's battery will have I wouldnt be surprised if a USB port doesnt give out enough power to be able to charge the battery.

10/12/04 + kyone

I'm hoping it will be possible to attach a standard battery pack that takes "AA" batteries. It would be bulky (maybe 4 x AA) but would be good if you intend to go off the beaten track for a few days or weeks for that matter. Like with the Sonly MD players, 90% of the time uses the standard Sony battery but when necessary add extender pack ! At least a car charger would be nice.

10/12/04 + ch2s

I VERY highly doubt 4 AAs would even be able to get this device to turn on, and if so it wouldnt be more than very few minutes or seconds.

10/12/04 + illucid

4AA's wouldn't be enough.... Computers that run a proper CPU and associated hardware require increasingly large amounts of power.... If it is i will jump out of my skin with joy! that would be unreal...

10/12/04 + Chekote

I think its also a matter of Voltage & Amps. AA Batteries are just not made to put out that kind of power.

Recent Blog: Flipstart Camera

10/14/04 + fil

The answer is now here:
link

model 01 power supply
AC (US 110V) power supply $99.00

It's a PROPRIETARY PLUG that interfaces with the OQO power connector.

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10/14/04 + kyone

I guess I had the new Energizer e2 batteries that are lithium based in mind when talking about batteries. They are good for digital cameras because they handle high instantaneous current draw from the flash. No other battery can compete with regards to this issue. Also it would have to be powered from the battery port not the DC port. The DC port would recognise that it is mains powered and run at full speed. When battery only it would throttle back. Thats why if you were to make an external battery back it would have to connect to the battery connector (quite difficult). The supplied Lithium polymer is generally a fixed voltage, it is a property of the polymer 3 or so volts. As for AMPS a battery can give as much as needed generally but would run them down very fast if higher amps. So in theory you would need 2 x 2 batteries in series and both of those connected together in parallel to make the 3 volts. Who knows maybe possible with D cells. But at the end of the day I still think it would be great to have an option to run the OQO from off the shelf batteries for off the beaten track.

10/14/04 + captain

The AC adapter plug is proprietary, no way around it. Same goes for the docking cable power in port.

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10/16/04 + DoC

It's a 5 pin power port which makes me think all of the various voltages required (GND, 12, 5, -5, 3.3 or something like that) are produced in the external box. This is a good idea from a heat perspective since reducing voltages creates heat. Most portable power supplies are HIGHLY inefficient in that respect because of the size and weight requirements. Unfortunately it's going to make travel charging a little more complicated.

The question about it buzzing and not working well with invertors is rather interesting. It almost sounds like they've built a compact switching power supply instead of a typical transformer and regulator. It would be more efficient and generate less heat but I've not seen anyone try that in such a small form factor before. The buzzing would likely mean they went cheap on the components and used a low frequency PWM to drive the switching instead of a higher frequency oscillator driven circuit.

5 minutes with one of the power cables and my multimeter and another couple hours of designing and building, I could put together a car/airplane charger for this thing. I bought a couple extra power cables so I could scavange the connector if it's entirely proprietary. I've seen similar connectors but I don't know for sure if it's the same as some I've seen.

I'm going on a trip out of the country so as soon as I get mine and determine if I can buy or need to build I'll post the info here including schematics if necessary.

10/16/04 + garylm

DoC said: "I'll post the info here including schematics if necessary."

Sounds like Captain needs to get busy and give us code and image posting capability. Why not Invision Power Board , UBB or PHPbb?

Recent Blog: Travelling With the OQO

10/16/04 + DoC

Don't worry, I can provide a link. ;)