JPH06332564A - Power saving control method for computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the power saving action of a computer system by providing the system with a means to detect an open/close state of a cover and stopping the clock of a CPU to more the CPU into a screen display/CPU stop mode when it detects that the cover is closed while the CPU is operating in its normal mode. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 3 updates a timer each time a key input is occurred by a key input time monitoring part 12 and an interruption request is performed to a keyboard controller KBC 2 if the next key input is not carried out for a certain period of time or longer. A mode control part 10 of the KBC 2 stops the generation of clocks of a clock generator 11 of the CPU 3 in response to the interruption request. Then, the part 10 stops the operation of the CPU 3 and sets a screen display/CPU stop mode. When a cover 7 of a display 4 is closed in a normal mode, the closed cover 7 is detected by a sensor 8 and this fact is sent to a cover open/close monitoring part 13. Then, the part 13 performs an interruption in the KBC 2 and lets the part 10 to perform switching processing to the screen display/CPU stop mode.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power saving control method for reducing power consumption in a computer system having an openable / closable cover when the cover is closed and the computer is not in use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a computer system such as a portable personal computer or a word processor, if a key input operation is not performed for a certain period of time during use in the normal mode, the operation mode is considered to be interrupted. Screen display that stops the operation of the CPU while displaying the screen from the normal mode-C
Power saving control is generally performed to save power by shifting to the PU stop mode.

FIG. 4 shows a basic configuration of a conventional computer system having a power saving control function, and 1 in the figure is a keyboard K.
B, 2 are keyboard controllers KBC, 3 is a central processing unit CPU, and 4 is a display. In the normal mode in which the operation is performed, when a key input operation is performed on the keyboard KB1, the key input is converted into a corresponding key code by the keyboard controller KBC2 and sent to the CPU 3 to issue an operation request. The CPU 3 processes the key input requested to operate, and displays the processing result on the display 4.

The CPU 3 uses a timer to monitor the time of key input. As shown in FIG. 5, if there is no key input for a certain period of time in the normal mode 5 (for example, several minutes), the screen display / CPU stop mode is displayed. Then, the operation of the CPU 3 is stopped and the power consumption is suppressed. Also screen display / C
When the key input is performed in the PU stop mode 6, the state transition control is performed to return to the normal mode 5 and perform the key input processing. In the screen display / CPU stop mode 6, the information in the memory is retained as it is.

The state transition control for the CPU 3 is C
Since PU3 must be controlled even when it is in a stopped state, it requires the help of a device having a control function independent of CPU3. In the configuration of FIG. 4, the keyboard controller KBC2 has this control function. The control operation will be described below.

The CPU 3 has the KBC 2 in the normal mode.
When the key input is notified from, the processing is performed, but the time when there is no key input is monitored, and if there is no key input for a certain time, the KBC2 is interrupted. KBC2 is C by the interrupt processing
Control is performed to stop the clock for PU3. As a result, the CPU 3 stops its operation and enters the screen display / CPU stop mode. However, the KBC2 remains in the operating state, and when the keyboard KB1 is subsequently pressed, the CPU3
To the CPU 3 to resume the normal mode processing state. As a result, the CPU3
Processes key input and starts time monitoring.

[0007]

In the conventional computer system which performs power saving control, the operation mode is changed from the normal mode 5 to the screen display / CPU stop mode 6 which consumes less power, on condition that the keyboard is not operated for a certain time or longer. I am trying to make a transition. Therefore, even when the user leaves the seat for a certain period of time and interrupts the process, the normal mode 5 continues for a certain period of time and the power consumption remains high.

According to the present invention, when the use of the computer system is interrupted and it is clear that the computer system is in the non-use state, it is possible to shift to the screen display / CPU stop mode 6 without waiting for a certain period of time to enhance the power saving effect. Is intended.

Furthermore, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the display O
By shifting to the FF mode 9, it is intended to further enhance the power saving effect.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in a computer system having a cover that can be opened and closed for the whole including a display, a keyboard, or a main unit, the open / closed state of the cover is monitored and the CPU is set to a normal mode. At a certain time, when the cover is closed, control is performed to immediately shift to the screen display / CPU stop mode.

The display is turned off after a lapse of a predetermined time.
It uses the control to change to the mode. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

In the figure, 3 is a CPU for controlling the operation mode. Reference numeral 5 is a normal mode in which the CPU 3 can perform normal processing.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a screen display / CPU stop mode in which the operation of the CPU 3 is stopped. 6'is CPU3
The display OFF mode is a state in which the operation and the screen display of the display are stopped.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an openable / closable cover, which is provided for protecting the display surface, for example. 8
Is a sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the cover 7.

From the normal mode 5 of the CPU 3 to screen display / C
The state transition control to the PU stop mode 6 is performed when the time monitoring is timed out because there is no key input for a certain period of time or more.
This is performed when the sensor 8 detects that the cover 7 is closed.

On the other hand, the state transition control from the screen display / CPU stop mode 6 to the normal mode 5 is performed when a key is input.

[0017]

In FIG. 1, the CPU 3 is in the normal mode after being turned on and is ready for use by the user. In this normal mode 5, the time for key input is monitored in the same manner as in the conventional case. If no key input is performed for a certain time or longer, the state transitions to the screen display / CPU stop mode 6 even when the cover 7 is open. . In addition, cover 7 at any time
When is closed, the sensor 8 immediately detects it and transitions to the screen display / CPU stop mode 6.

In screen display / CPU stop mode 6, the CPU
The clock of 3 is stopped or the power is turned off, but the screen is displayed. Therefore, although the appearance is the same as that in the normal mode for the user, the power consumption of the CPU 3 is significantly reduced.

CPU 3 displays screen / CPU stop mode 6
In the case of, the key input is performed to return to the normal mode and the processing can be continued.
Therefore, the power consumption of the CPU 3 continues to be significantly reduced when the cover 7 is just opened and the screen is viewed.

In addition, the time is monitored in the screen display / CPU stop mode, and when this mode continues for a certain time or more, the display screen is further turned off to save power consumed by the display. It is possible to shift to mode 6 '.

[0021]

2 is a block diagram of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 1 is a keyboard K
B, 2 is a keyboard controller KBC, 3 is a CPU,
4 is a CRT or LCD display, 7 is a display cover, 8 is a sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the cover 7,
Reference numeral 9 denotes a key input processing unit for controlling the code conversion of a signal key-input from the keyboard KB1 and sending it to the CPU 3.
0 is a mode control unit that controls transitions between normal mode and screen display / CPU stop mode, display OFF mode, etc. for power saving, 11 is a clock generator that generates a clock that controls the operation of the CPU 3, and 12 is A key input time monitoring unit that monitors the time after the key input is cut off, 13 is a cover opening / closing monitoring unit that monitors the opening / closing of the cover 7 based on the output signal of the sensor 8, and 14 is a screen display / CP.
It is a stop mode monitor that monitors the duration of the U stop mode.

In the normal mode, the key input processing unit 9 of the KBC 2 is operated by the CPU when the key input operation is performed by the KB 1.
3 request processing. CPU3 is key input time monitoring unit 1
The timer is updated every time there is a key input in 2, and an interrupt request is issued to the KBC 2 when the next key input is not performed for a certain time. The mode control unit 10 of the KBC 2 controls the clock generation of the clock generator 11 of the CPU 3 in response to the interrupt request. As a result, the CPU 3 stops its operation and enters the screen display / CPU stop mode.

When the cover 7 of the display 4 is closed in the normal mode, the sensor 8 detects this and notifies the cover opening / closing monitoring unit 13 of this. Cover open / close monitor 13
Is independent of the CPU 3, and when it identifies the closed state of the cover 7, it interrupts the KBC 2 and causes the mode control unit 10 to perform switching control to the screen display / CPU stop mode.

The stop mode time monitoring unit 14 displays the screen
A timer monitors the duration of CPU stop mode,
When the duration exceeds a certain time, the mode control unit 10 is notified. In response to this, the mode control unit 10 turns off the power supply of the display 4 and turns off the screen display to enter the display off mode in which the power consumption is further reduced.

When the cover 7 is opened in the display OFF mode with the cover 7 closed,
The sensor 8 detects this and notifies the cover opening / closing monitoring unit 13 of the detection, and the cover opening / closing monitoring unit 13 interrupts the KBC 2 and requests the mode control unit 10 for mode transition. Mode control unit 1
0 turns on the power of the display 4 and displays the screen / CP
Switch to U-stop mode.

When key input is performed from KB1 in the screen display / CPU stop mode with the cover 7 open, the mode control unit 10 of the KBC2 causes the clock generator 11 of the CPU3 to generate the clock. After switching to the normal mode, the CPU 3 is interrupted and a key input process is requested.

As a result, the CPU 3 executes the processing corresponding to the key input in the normal mode. FIG. 3 is a flow chart of mode control in the computer system according to the embodiment of this invention.

When the power is turned on, the system is initialized to the normal mode operation state, and the time monitoring of key input is started.
If a key input is made via the KB or KBC, the corresponding process is performed and the time monitoring is restarted. If the time-out occurs without key input or the cover is closed, the KBC is interrupted and the CPU clock is stopped. Control is performed to shift to the screen display / CPU stop mode. In the screen display / CP stop mode, time monitoring is performed. If the screen display / CPU stop mode continues for a certain period of time and times out, the display turns off.
Switch to mode. When the cover is opened in the display OFF mode, the power of the display is turned ON and the screen display / CPU stop mode is entered. When a key is input in the display OFF mode or the screen display / CPU stop mode, the clock generation of the CPU is restarted and the mode is changed to the normal mode. After transitioning to the normal mode, the KBC interrupts the CPU,
Is enabled to start the corresponding processing of key input, and returns to the initial state.

[0029]

According to the present invention, in a computer system such as a portable personal computer or WS which requires low power consumption, only when the user performs a process that takes a long time to respond with a key input operation. In the meantime, in the case where an emergency is required and the user sits in the middle of the process, the CPU can be automatically put into the power saving state immediately by closing the cover, and the power saving effect can be further improved.

When the cover is opened and the screen display is viewed before the predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU is stopped and the power saving state continues. Further, since the display is turned off after a lapse of a predetermined time, a further power saving effect can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of mode control in the system of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a basic configuration diagram of a conventional computer system.

FIG. 5 is a mode transition diagram in a conventional computer system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 CPU 5 Normal mode 6 Screen display / CPU stop mode 6'Display OFF mode 7 Cover 8 Sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A normal mode of a normal operation state, and a screen display / CPU stop mode of an operation state in which the operation of the CPU is stopped while displaying a screen that transitions when no key input is performed for a certain period of time in the normal mode. In a computer system having a cover that can be opened and closed, means for detecting the open / closed state of the cover is provided, and when it is detected that the cover is closed in the normal mode operation state of the CPU, the CPU Stops the clock and displays the screen / CPU
A power-saving control method for a computer system, characterized by transitioning to a stop mode. 2. The saving of a computer system according to claim 1, wherein the time is monitored after the screen display / CPU stop mode is entered, and the screen display is turned off when the mode lasts for a certain time or more. Power control method.