GB2434459A

GB2434459A - Circuit capable of updating the power supply specification of a microprocessor and method thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2434459A
Application number: GB0601195A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wen-Chi Hung
Original assignee: Giga Byte Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Giga Byte Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-01-20
Filing date: 2006-01-20
Publication date: 2007-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-20
Also published as: GB0601195D0; GB2434459B

Abstract

A circuit disposed on a motherboard has a microprocessor outputting a required electricity signal and a program data signal relating to a power supply specification. A programmable memory IC is connected to the microprocessor for processing the electricity signal and executing the program data for automatically updating the required power supply specification of a microprocessor. A power supply generates a required power according to the program data signal. Also disclosed are a PWM control unit outputting a signal to a drive unit that drives power switches to provide the required power, and a feedback-stabilizing unit for protection against over-voltage, over-current and temperature. Also disclosed is a method for downloading the program data signal from a remote server via internet or from an external memory device.

Description

CIRCUIT HAVING UPDATED POWER SUPPLY

SPECIFICATION FOR MICROPROCESSOR AND METHOD

The present invention relates to a circuit having an updated power supply specification for a microprocessor and to a method of updating a power supply specification and more particularly, to a circuit which is used in a computer motherboard and utilizes a programmable memory IC to store data and execute a power supply program for the microprocessor so as to provide electricity to the microprocessor and a method thereof.

Due to technological developments, computers have become an essential part of our daily lives. Owing to the development and requirements of multimedia technology, computer software constantly requires updating and improving. However, the cost of doing so is usually too expensive for most consumers. Therefore, it is also practicable that the user can replace the motherboard and microprocessor for upgrading.

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the conventional power supply circuit for a microprocessor. In the conventional computer motherboard 1, the microprocessor 12 is connected to a PWM control unit 14 and transmits a signal corresponding to a required working voltage to the PWM control unit 14.

After the PWM control unit 14 receives the voltage corresponding signal from the microprocessor 12, a PWM signal corresponding to the required working voltage for the microprocessor 12 is produced so as to control a driving unit 16 in accordance with the electricity provided by the motherboard 1 and for driving at least one power switch to generate a required working voltage for the microprocessor 12.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the user usually upgrades a computer by installing a faster microprocessor 12, but the new microprocessor 12 always has a different working voltage from the old one so that when the new microprocessor 12 transmits the signal corresponding to the required working voltage to the PWM control unit, it is difficult for the PWM control unit 14 to produce a PWM signal that corresponds to the required working voltage of the new microprocessor 12. Therefore, the PWM control unit 14 cannot

I

correctly control the driving unit 16 to drive the power switch 18 for generating the required working voltage for the new microprocessor 12.

This means that the new microprocessor 12 is not compatible with the PWM control unit 14 of the original motherboard 1. In other words, the PWM control unit 14 of the original motherboard I cannot provide a normal working voltage for the new microprocessor 12. Therefore, the user also has to replace the computer motherboard I when replacing the microprocessor 12 so that the required working voltage of the new microprocessor 12 can be provided. However, this will cost the user a lot of money.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to alleviate or overcome the defect that the motherboard is not able to effectively provide electricity to a microprocessor having a different working voltage, so that the motherboard has to be updated when the microprocessor is replaced by a newer model.

The invention is defined in the independent claims.

The circuit of the present invention utilizes a programmable memory IC to connect to a microprocessor, receives a required electricity signal and a program data signal transmitted from the microprocessor, and executes the program data signal for outputting a working voltage control signal.

In an embodiment the working voltage control signal is transmitted to a PWM control unit connected to the programmable memory IC for making the PWM control unit output a PWM signal. A feedback-stabilizing unit is connected between the programmable memory IC and the PWM control unit for acquiring over-voltage, over-current and over-temperature states in the PWM control unit and transmitting these states to the programmable memory IC. A driving unit is connected to the PWM control unit and at least one power switch for receiving the PWM signal so as to drive the power switches to generate power. These power switches provide the required electricity to the microprocessor according to a DC current supplied on the motherboard and through a switch.

The above circuit having an updated power supply specification for a microprocessor can be used to update a microprocessor having an identical pin number. That is to say, when updating, the pin number of the new microprocessor should be identical to that of the old one.

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of preferred embodiments of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description by way of example only, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the power supply circuits of the

microprocessor in the prior art;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the power supply circuits of a microprocessor according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the power supply circuits of a microprocessor according to the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the steps for updating the power supply

specification for a microprocessor.

Please refer to Fig. 2 that shows a block diagram of a power supply circuit for a microprocessor of the present invention. The circuit having an updated power supply specification for a microprocessor of the present invention is installed to a computer motherboard (not shown) for solving the problem of the motherboard not effectively providing electricity to the microprocessor having a different working voltage specification such that the user has to replace the motherboard along with the microprocessor, and includes: a microprocessor 22, a programmable PWM control unit 23, a driving unit 28, and at least one power switch 29, wherein the PWM control unit 23 consists of a PWM control unit 26 connected to a programmable memory IC 24 through a feedback-stabilizing unit 27.

Please refer to Fig. 3 which is a schematic view of a power supply circuit of a microprocessor of the present invention. Please also refer to Fig. 2, in which the microprocessor 22, the programmable memory IC 24, the PWM control unit 26, the feedback-stabilizing unit 27, the driving unit 28 and the power switches 29 are included, and the programmable PWM control unit 23 consists of the programmable memory IC 24 connected to the PWM control unit 26 through the feedback-stabilizing unit 27.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the microprocessor 22 is connected to the programmable memory IC 24 and transmits a required electricity signal to the programmable memory IC 24 as well as a program data signal to the programmable memory IC 24 through a data bus 30. The programmable memory IC 24 is connected to the PWM control unit 26 and transmits the program data signal from the microprocessor 22 according to the required electricity signal so as to output a working voltage control signal to the PWM control unit 26. The feedback-stabilizing unit 27 is connected between the programmable memory IC 24 and the PWM control unit 26 for acquiring over-voltage, over-current and over-temperature states in the PWM control unit 26 and for transmitting these states to the programmable memory IC 24 so as to protect the protection circuit in the PWM control unit 26.

The PWM control unit 26 is connected to the driving unit 28 for outputting a PMW signal, corresponding to the working voltage control signal, to the driving unit 28. The PWM signal controls the driving unit 28 to drive the power switches 29 connected to the driving unit 28 to switch. The power switches 29 provide the electricity required by the microprocessor 22 according to a DC current on the motherboard (not shown) by switching.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the program data signal that is transmitted by the microprocessor 22 to the programmable memory IC 24 through the data bus 30 is a power supply specification program data signal. The power supply specification program data signal can be downloaded through the Internet connected to a remote server (not shown) or can be downloaded through an external memory device (not shown). The feedback-stabilizing unit 27 consists of resistors R6, R8 and capacitors C4, C6.

The power supply specification for the microprocessor 22 is collocated with a corresponding power supply specification program data signal and the power supply specification program data signal is transmitted to the programmable memory IC 24 through the data bus 30 by the microprocessor 22. At the same time, the programmable memory IC 24 is used to store and execute the power supply specification program data signal.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the power switches 29 are transistors.

The circuit having an updated power supply specification for a microprocessor of the present invention is used to update a microprocessor having an identical pin number, that is to say, when updating, the new microprocessor 22 should have an identical pin number to that of the old microprocessor.

Next, the method for providing an updated power supply specification for a microprocessor according to the present invention will be explained.

Please refer to Fig. 2 and also Fig. 4, which is a flow chart of the steps for updating the power supply specification of the microprocessor. As shown in Fig. 4, the method includes steps of: firstly, detecting a microprocessor and judging if the power supply specification of the microprocessor is a new specification (S100); then, downloading a program data signal for the new power supply specification of the microprocessor (Si 02); then, writing the program data signal into a programmable memory IC by the microprocessor through a data bus (S104); performing a circuit protect detection for protecting the circuit from damage (Si05); resethng the power supply system (Si06); performing the program data signal via the programmable memory IC (8108); providing the new power supply specification to the microprocessor (Si 10); and booting (Sii2).

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, in the step of detecting a microprocessor and judging if the power supply specification of the microprocessor is a new power supply specification, the booting step (Si i2) is directly performed if the power supply specification is not new. In the step of downloading a program data signal for the new power supply specification of the microprocessor (Si02), the program data signal is downloaded through the Internet connected to a remote server (not shown) or the program data signal is downloaded through an external memory device (now shown).

Also referring to Figs. 2 and 4, when a user installs the new microprocessor 22, the power supply system on the motherboard (not shown) detects a power supply specification required by the new microprocessor 22 and downloads a corresponding power supply specification program data signal according to the power supply specification, and simultaneously, the microprocessor 22 transmits the power supply specification program data signal to the programmable memory IC 24 through the data bus 30 and then resets the power supply system on the motherboard. After resetting the power supply system, the programmable memory IC 24 executes the power supply specification program data signal so as to provide electricity to the required power supply specification of the new microprocessor to the new microprocessor through the PWM control unit 26, the driving unit 28 and the power switches 29 and then reboots.

In the aforesaid description, the circuit having an updated power supply specification for a microprocessor and the method thereof resolves the defect of a motherboard not effectively providing electricity to a microprocessor having a different working voltage specification such that the motherboard has to be replaced following the installation of a new microprocessor. The circuit having an updated power supply specification for a microprocessor according to the present invention utilizes a programmable memory IC for solving the problem. The user only needs to download a power supply specification program data signal corresponding to the updated power supply specification of the microprocessor and execute the power supply specification program data signal via the programmable memory IC. Then the power supply specification required by the microprocessor can be updated automatically.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made within the scope of the invention, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts.

Claims

Claims 1. A circuit having an updated power supply specification for a

microprocessor wherein the circuit is installed to a computer motherboard, the circuit comprising: a microprocessor for outputting a required electricity signal and a program data signal; a programmable memory IC connected to the microprocessor for processing the required electricity signal and the program data signal and performing the program data signal so as to output a working voltage control signal; a PWM control unit connected to the programmable memory IC for receiving the working voltage control signal so as to output a PWM signal; a feedback-stabilizing unit connected between the programmable memory IC and the PWM control unit for acquiring over-voltage, over-current and over-temperature states in the PWM control unit and for transmitting the states to the programmable memory IC; and a driving unit connected to the PWM control unit and at least one power switch for receiving the PWM signal to drive the power switches to switch and for providing electricity required by the microprocessor through the power switches.

2. A circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the program data signal is a power supply specification program data signal of the microprocessor.

3. A circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein in use the power supply specification program data signal is arranged to be downloaded from a remote server via an Internet connection.

4. A circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein in use the power supply specification program data signal is arranged to be downloaded through an external memory device.

5. A circuit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the power switches are transistors.

6. A circuit having a power supply specification for updating a microprocessor and installed to a computer motherboard, comprising: a microprocessor for outputting a required electricity signal and a program data signal; a programmable PWM control unit connected to the microprocessor for receiving the required electricity signal and the program data signal, for processing the program data signal so as to output a working voltage control signal, and for outputting a PWM signal independence upon the working voltage control signal, wherein the programmable PWM control unit further comprises a feedback-stabilizing unit for protection from overvoltage, overcurrent and over-temperature therefore; and a driving unit connected to the programmable PWM control unit and at least one power switch for receiving the PWM signal to drive power switches to switch and for providing electricity to the microprocessor through the power switches.

7. A circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the program data signal is a power supply specification program data signal of the microprocessor.

8. A method for having a power supply specification update a microprocessor, comprising of: detecting a microprocessor; downloading a program data signal of a new power supply

specification of the microprocessor;

writing the program data signal into a programmable memory IC; resetting the power supply system; processing the program data signal by the programmable memory IC; performing a circuit protection detection for protecting the circuit from damage; providing the new power supply specification to the microprocessor; and booting.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein in the step of detecting a microprocessor and judging if the power supply specification of the microprocessor is a new power supply specification, the booting step is performed if the power supply specification is not new.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of downloading a program data signal of the new power supply specification of the microprocessor, the program data signal is downloaded through the Internet connected to a remote server.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein in the step of downloading a program data signal of the new power supply specification of the microprocessor, the program data signal is downloaded through an external memory device.

12. A power supply circuit for a microprocessor, the power supply circuit having a re-writable memory arranged to store a power supply specification of the microprocessor and a power supply coupled to the memory and arranged to power the microprocessor in accordance with the stored power supply specification, the power supply circuit being capable of updating the stored power supply specification when the microprocessor is upgraded.

13. A microprocessor power supply circuit substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of upgrading a microprocessor power supply circuit, the method being substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.