Peripheral device including a user interface for controlling a computer system unit optionally attached to the peripheral device

1. A computer system including:

a system unit having a system unit power supply system performing a process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within the system unit;

an electrical connection;

a peripheral device connected to the system unit by the electrical connection, wherein the peripheral device includes a peripheral power supply system performing a process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within the peripheral device, and a main power switch electrically connected to the peripheral power supply system and to the system unit power supply system through the electrical connection to turn both of the power supply systems on and off together.

2. The computer system of claim 1 , A computer system including:

a system unit having a system unit power supply system performing a process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within the system unit;

an electrical connection; and

a peripheral device connected to the system unit by the electrical connection, wherein the peripheral device includes a peripheral power supply system performing a process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within the peripheral device, and a main power switch electrically connected to the peripheral power supply system and to the system unit power supply system through the electrical connection to turn both of the power supply systems on and off, wherein said main power switch is connected to said peripheral power supply system by a first power switching line and to said system unit power supply system by a second power switching line extending through said electrical connection, wherein said peripheral power supply system additionally supplies a first switching voltage relative to a ground potential in said peripheral device, wherein said first switching voltage is connected to said first power switching line through a resistor, wherein said first switching voltage remains on when said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said peripheral device is turned off, wherein said main power switch includes a first contact connecting said first power switching line to a ground potential within said peripheral device when said main power switch is operated, and wherein said peripheral power supply system includes a power sequencer causing said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said peripheral device to be turned on in response to said first power switching line being held at the ground potential in said peripheral device for a first time duration and additionally causing said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said peripheral device to be turned off in response to said first power switching line being held at the ground potential in said peripheral device for a second time duration, substantially longer than said first time duration.

3. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein

said main power switch additionally includes a second contact connecting said second power switching line to said ground potential within said peripheral device when said power switch is operated, and

said system unit power supply system additionally supplies a second switching voltage relative to a ground potential in said system unit, said second switching voltage is connected to said second power switching line through a resistor,

said second switching voltage remains on when said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said system unit is turned off,

said system unit power supply system includes a power sequencer causing said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said system unit to be turned on in response to said second power switching line being held at the ground potential in said peripheral device for a first time duration and additionally causing said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said system unit to be turned off in response to said second power switching line being held at the ground potential in said peripheral device for a second time duration, substantially longer than said first time duration.

4. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein said system unit additionally includes an auxiliary power switch connecting said second power switching line to ground potential in said system unit when said auxiliary power switch is operated.

5. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein

said second power switching line is additionally connected to said first switching voltage through a resistor and is additionally switched to said ground potential within said peripheral device when said auxiliary power switch is operated, and

said system unit power supply system includes a power sequencer causing said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said system unit to be turned on in response to said second power switching line being held at the ground potential in said peripheral device for a first time duration and additionally causing said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said system unit to be turned off in response to said second power switching line being held at the ground potential in said peripheral device for a second time duration, substantially longer than said first time duration.

6. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein

said system unit power supply system additionally supplies a second switching voltage relative to a ground potential in said system unit

said second switching voltage is connected to a third power switching line through a resistor,

said system unit additionally includes an auxiliary power switch connecting said third power switching line to ground potential in said system unit when said auxiliary power switch is operated, and

said third power switching line is additionally connected as an input to said power sequencer in said system unit power supply system to cause said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said system unit to be turned on in response to said third power switching line being held at the ground potential in said system unit for a first time duration and additionally causing said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said system unit to be turned off in response to said third power switching line being held at said ground potential in said system unit for a second time duration, substantially longer than said first time duration.

7. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein

said peripheral device additionally includes a drive indicator light electrically connected to a drive indicator signal line within said electrical connection;

said system unit additionally includes a hard disk drive and a drive adapter generating a signal applied to the drive indicator signal line to cause illumination of the drive indicator light as data is read from and written to the hard disk drive.

8. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein

said peripheral device additionally comprises a window having an

appearance similar to surrounding external surfaces of said peripheral device when said drive indicator light is off, and

said drive indicator light illuminates said window through a mask providing an illuminated pattern when said first indicator light is on.

9. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein

said peripheral device additionally comprises a display screen, and

said electrical connection additionally includes at least one video data line for transmitting a video signal for generating an image on said display screen.

10. The peripheral device of claim 9 , wherein

said system unit runs in an operational state and in a suspended state, and

said peripheral device additionally includes a power indicator light, a circuit determining from a video signal transmitted said through said connector whether a system unit electrically attached to said peripheral unit is running in an operational state or in a suspended state, and a circuit driving the power indicator light to provide a first visible indication when said system unit is running in the operational state and a second visible indication when said system unit is running in the suspended state.

11. A peripheral device for use with a system unit in a computer system, wherein the peripheral device comprises:

a connector including at least one contact terminal for electrically connecting the peripheral device to the system unit;

a power supply system performing a process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within the peripheral device, wherein said power supply system additionally supplies a switching voltage relative to a ground potential in said peripheral device, wherein said switching voltage is connected to said first power switching line through a resistor, and wherein said switching voltage remains on when said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said peripheral device is turned off,

a power switch electrically connected to the power supply system by a first power switching line to turn the process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within the peripheral device on and off and to a first contact terminal within the connector by a second power switching line, wherein said power switch includes a first contact connecting said first power switching line to a ground potential when said power switch is operated, and wherein said power supply system includes a power sequencer causing said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said peripheral device to be turned on in response to said first power switching line being held at the ground potential in said peripheral device for a first time duration and additionally causing said process of supplying at least one voltage level to components within said peripheral device to be turned off in response to said first power switching line being held at the ground potential in said peripheral device for a second time duration, substantially longer than said first time duration.

12. The peripheral device of claim 11 , wherein

said power switch additionally includes a second contact connecting said second power switching line to said ground potential within said peripheral device when said power switch is operated, and

said second power switching line is electrically floating within said peripheral device when said power switch is not operated.

13. The peripheral device of claim 11 , wherein said second power switching line is additionally connected to said switching voltage through a resistor and is additionally switched to said ground potential within said peripheral device when said power switch is operated.

14. The peripheral device of claim 11 , additionally comprising a first indicator light electrically connected to a second contact terminal within said connector.

15. The peripheral device of claim 14 , wherein

said peripheral device additionally comprises a window having an appearance similar to surrounding external surfaces of said peripheral device when said first indicator light is off, and

said first indicator light illuminates said window through a mask providing an illuminated pattern when said first indicator light is on.

16. The peripheral device of claim 11 , wherein

said peripheral device additionally comprises a display screen, and

said connector additionally includes at least one contact terminal for transmitting a video signal for generating an image on said display screen.

17. The peripheral device of claim 16 , wherein said peripheral device additionally includes:

a power indicator light;

a circuit determining from a video signal transmitted through said connector whether a system unit electrically attached to said peripheral unit is running in an operational state or in a suspended state; and

a circuit driving the power indicator light to provide a first visible indication when said system unit is running in the operational state and a second visible indication when said system unit is running in the suspended state.

18. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein

said peripheral device additionally includes a drive indicator light electrically connected to a drive indicator signal line within said electrical connection;

said system unit additionally includes a hard disk drive and a drive adapter generating a signal applied to the drive indicator signal line to cause illumination of the drive indicator light as data is read from and written to the hard disk drive.

19. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein

said peripheral device additionally comprises a window having an appearance similar to surrounding external surfaces of said peripheral device when said drive indicator light is off, and

said drive indicator light illuminates said window through a mask providing an illuminated pattern when said first indicator light is on.