JP2000003235A - Information processing device and method, and recording medium stored with control program of the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To notify the abnormality of an option and to protect the main body of an information processor from the abnormality of the option by operating an overcurrent protection circuit when the power supply of the option is not connected, deciding whether the option operated normally or not based on a state flag and confirming the actual operation of the overcurrent protection circuit. SOLUTION: The VCD is applied to a card slot as the power supply of an interface card and a current ICD flows. When the interface card is correctly set, an FD control pointer is registered in an FD interface card. If the motor driving power of an FDD 2 is not supplied from an AC adapter 4, an overcurrent protection circuit 5 operated to reduce the VCD and to disappear the information registered at the FD control pointer. If the FD control pointer is abnormal, the drive of a motor of the FDD 2 is stopped to discontinue the supply of power to the interface card. Then the operation of a PC card controller 3-10 is stopped and a message of abnormality of the FDD 2 is shown at a display part to notify an operator of this abnormality.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an option management method driven by a power supply of an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a Japanese word processor, and a portable information terminal. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a recording medium on which a control program is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optional power supply method driven by a power supply of an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a Japanese word processor, and a portable information terminal includes a first method in which each option has its own power supply means; There are a second method depending on the power supply of the processing apparatus main body and a third method using both the information processing apparatus main body and an optional power supply unit.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is the second and third methods which require the power supply of the information processing apparatus main body, and cope with the case where an external load exceeding the power supply amount allowable by the main body occurs. Is the way.

In such a case, generally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-25-2
The overcurrent protection circuit is provided as shown in Japanese Patent No. 24785 to cope with the problem.

JP-A-5-224785 discloses that when an abnormality occurs in a power supply circuit, the abnormality is detected by an overcurrent detection circuit provided in an overcurrent protection circuit, and an output line to the power supply circuit is provided. At the same time, supply an overcurrent detection signal between the signal interface circuit and the power supply circuit via the overcurrent detection signal line, and disconnect the interface signal line from the signal interface circuit with the interface signal disconnection circuit. This protects the information stored in the interface circuit.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 5-224785 is an invention for protecting a peripheral circuit when an overcurrent detection circuit operates. It is well known that an overcurrent protection is provided at an interface portion when an option or the like is connected. It is.

Various general-purpose options can be connected to the information processing apparatus, and the power supply method is a mixture of the three methods as described above. For this reason, the possibility that an external load exceeding the power supply amount allowable by the main body occurs is increasing.

As an example, in the third method in which the information processing apparatus main body and the optional power supply means are used in combination, if the connection of the AC power supply or the like as the optional power supply means is forgotten, the optional power supply is not used. Since all information is supplied from the information processing apparatus main body, an optional load exceeding the power supply amount allowable by the main body is generated.

It is an object of the present invention to propose a solution in a case where an optional load exceeding the power supply amount allowable by such a main body occurs.

[0010]

In the third method in which the information processing apparatus main body and the optional power supply means are used in combination, the main body can be tolerated when the connection of the AC power supply or the like as the optional power supply means is forgotten. It is an object of the present invention to make it possible for an external device management control unit of an information processing apparatus main body to confirm that an optional load greater than the power supply amount has occurred, and to prompt the operator for an option abnormal situation to remove the cause.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for identifying the occurrence of an overcurrent by knowing the state of an optional existing hardware without newly providing an overcurrent detection signal generating unit.

[0012]

An information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is an information processing apparatus capable of system expansion by an option such as a memory card and an FDD, wherein an overcurrent protection is provided on a power supply line to the option. An information processing apparatus including a circuit, a write unit that writes information to the information storage unit of the option before performing a heavy load control in which the optional load is generated in excess of an allowable power supply amount of the apparatus main body; Information processing means comprising: reading means for reading information in the information storage unit of the option after activation; and detection means for detecting an abnormal state of the power supply of the option from a change in information in the information storage of the option. Device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus, the overcurrent protection circuit has a power supply means such as a two-system power supply of the option side power supply and the information processing apparatus main body side power supply. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus capable of expanding the system by using an option such as a memory card or an FDD, wherein an insertion means for inserting an overcurrent protection circuit into a power supply line to the option. A first short-circuit / deletion means for short-circuiting or deleting the overcurrent protection circuit; and inserting the overcurrent protection circuit into an option power supply line when power is supplied to the option; The overcurrent protection circuit is short-circuited or deleted after a certain time according to the type of
And a short-circuit / deletion means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the first short-circuit / deletion means for short-circuiting or deleting the overcurrent protection circuit after a predetermined time according to the type of the option is a power supply means other than the information processing apparatus main body. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus does not have any information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method for an information processing apparatus capable of expanding a system by using an option such as a memory card or an FDD, wherein an overcurrent protection circuit is provided on a power supply line for the option. Comprising, before performing heavy load control in which the optional load is generated in excess of the allowable power supply amount of the apparatus main body, writing information in the optional information storage unit, and after starting heavy load control, storing the optional information storage unit The information processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: reading information of the option and detecting an abnormal state of the power supply of the option from a change in information in the information storage of the option.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium recording a control program for an information processing method, wherein the recording medium is a program for controlling an information processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of system expansion by an option such as a memory card or FDD. An overcurrent protection circuit is provided in the power supply line to the option, and information is written in the information storage unit of the option before performing heavy load control in which the load of the option occurs in excess of the allowable power supply amount of the device body, A control program for an information processing method, comprising reading information in the information storage unit of the option after starting heavy load control, and detecting an abnormal state of the power supply of the option from a change in information in the information storage unit of the option. It is a recording medium on which recording is performed.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a system according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, (1) denotes an information processing apparatus main body such as a personal computer, a Japanese word processor, and a portable information terminal. (11) is a display unit of the information processing apparatus, and (12) is a key input unit.
(2) is an optional external connection device, and here shows an FD drive device (hereinafter, FDD). In the present invention, the FDD model 8H00-01 of Y-EDATA is used.
31 and the like are assumed. (4) is an AC adapter for supplying power to the FD driving device. (3) is an interface card for connection to the information processing device (1), which is a built-in option. In the present invention, PCMCIA
/ JEIDA-compliant FDD connection card is used. That is, both (2) and (3) are options of the information processing apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of the present invention. (3-1) The CPU of the information processing apparatus main body controls the entire information processing apparatus and also controls the power supply of the present invention.

(3-2) is a timer for use in time management control described later in the present invention, which is a functional unit provided in the information processing apparatus.

Reference numeral (12) denotes an operation input unit for operating the information processing device with the KEY input unit of the information processing device main body.

(3-4) (3-5) is an internal memory in the information processing device of ROM and RAM, and (3-4)
The ROM stores various application programs from the OS of the information processing apparatus, fonts used for display, and the like, and a card service program (3-41) for controlling an interface card used in the description of the present invention.
And an FD driver program (3-4
2) is also stored.

The RAM of (3-5) is used for storing updated information used for the information processing apparatus and information transmitted and received from the interface card.

(3-7) is a power supply section of the information processing apparatus main body.

(3-6) is a power down signal (PDOWN) generation prohibition gate for preventing the system from malfunctioning during the unstable time when the power to the interface is turned on, which will be described later.

(11) is a display unit of the information processing apparatus, which is also used to display a card error notification shown in FIG. 8 and an FDD error notification message shown in FIG. 9 described later.

Reference numeral (3-9) denotes a power supply control unit of the interface card, which is a block including the overcurrent protection circuit of the present invention, and is described in detail in FIG.

Reference numeral (3-10) denotes a PC card controller which controls an interface card conforming to PCMCIA / JEIDA.

In the embodiment, Ricoh's RF5C29
6 / RF5C396L / RF5C396. This RF5C296 / RF5C396L / RF5C
LSI such as 396 is PCMCIA2.1 / JEIDA
It is a controller LSI for interfacing an I / O card such as an IC memory card, a modem, and an HDD conforming to the 4.2 standard with a system bus.

(3) is an option of an interface card inserted into a card slot of the information processing apparatus.
In the case of FDD, as shown in (2) of FIG. 2, the configuration is such that it is connected as an external connection device (option) outside through the interface card which is a built-in option.
(3-12) indicates an internal system bus of the information processing apparatus.

Next, the power supply control section of the interface card shown in FIG.

An FD interface card or a memory card is inserted into the card slot shown in FIG.
The FD drive (2) is connected to the interface card (3). The AC adapter (4) is connected to the FD drive (2) as described above with reference to FIG. An FD as a recording medium can be inserted into the FD drive. VCD is applied to the card slot as a power supply for the interface card, and an ICD current flows. Also, the PC card controller (3-1) is connected to the system bus in the information processing apparatus of (3-12).
0) is provided for transmitting and receiving control signals and data to and from the interface card.

In the present invention, the FDD motor drive signal (M-
ON), pointer information as an address pointer to a main memory used for transmitting / receiving information to / from an interface card, and the like, and a PC card controller (3-10) using, as card recognition information, a hard fixed value used as an identification value by each card. ), Information is exchanged between the information processing device and the option.

The interface card power control unit (3-
9) is an overcurrent protection circuit (5), SW1, SW2, and / or
It is composed of an AND gate of FDON and a power control signal of VCC5EN. In the case of FDD control, the OS is controlled by the FD driver program shown in (3-42) of FIG. 3 from the OS of the information processing apparatus. -41) is controlled by the card service program.

The operation of the FD driver and the card service will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. Here, a power supply line for inserting the overcurrent protection circuit (5) by starting these programs. SW1 is energized when the FDON signal is HIGH, and the supply source power V
A circuit configuration is shown in which CC is applied to the input of the overcurrent protection circuit (5) to apply VCD to the card slot.

When FDON is LOW and the signal of VCC5EN is HIGH, SW2 is energized to short-circuit the overcurrent protection circuit (5), and the VCD is transferred to the card slot without operating the overcurrent protection circuit (5). 3 shows a circuit configuration for realizing application.

By doing so, the FDON signal and the VC
By controlling the C5EN signal, the overcurrent protection circuit (5) can be inserted or removed from the power supply line to the interface card.

Next, the operation of the FD driver will be described with reference to FIGS.

An FD driver is a program that starts each application software when the information processing apparatus operates the FD.
This is a utility program incorporated in S. When the FD driver is activated, the FD is started in S4-1.
When ON is enabled, SW1 is energized and power is supplied to the interface card through the overcurrent protection circuit. As a result, the voltage VCD is supplied to the interface card, and the current ICD flows. At the rise of the FDON, the current flows slightly in excess of the overcurrent, so that it is necessary to prohibit the generation of the PDOWN signal for 1 ms so that the power supply of the information processing apparatus does not malfunction. This condition can be realized by gating (3-6) the output signal of the timer (3-2) in FIG. This is dealt with in S4-2.

After the elapse of 4 ms in S4-3, the VCC5EN is set in S4-4 to prepare for the operation of the PC card controller. Then, what is connected as an option card (FD interface card or memory card) is confirmed in S4-5, and it is determined in S4-6 whether they are the same.

As shown in FIG. 10, each of the option cards has recognition information provided as a hard fixed value.
Explaining with 0, in the case of FD, the FD card recognition information is 1
1H, the memory card recognition information is set to 21H, and the printer card recognition information is set to 31H. The information processing device reads this recognition information from each card through the PC card controller.

Normally, the operator does not know what is connected and is working on it, so no inconsistency occurs in S4-6.
At 4-19, the signal VCC5EN and the signal FDON are set to Low.
To stop the operation of the overcurrent protection circuit and the PC card controller, and stop the power supply to the interface card. Then, in S4-20, the card error message shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit to notify the operator that another interface card is likely to be inserted. If S4
If the interface card is correctly set in -6, the FD control pointer is registered in the FD interface card in S4-7 (means for writing information in an optional information storage unit).

As shown in FIG. 10, the FD control pointer is a pointer for an information transmission / reception allocation address for the memory (RAM) of the information processing device, and is a register in each external option device which is an internal option card or an external option. Will be recorded. This register is prepared so that the information disappears when the power is turned off. In FIG. 10, the FDD control pointer is 07H, the memory card control pointer is 08H, and the printer control pointer is 09H.

When the control pointer is registered in S4-7, S
At 4-8, the signal M-ON is set to High to drive the FDD motor. 500m motor drive time
The timer of s is set and managed in S4-9.

Here, the description returns to the beginning of S4-1.
The overcurrent protection circuit is set at 60 mA in this device.
This is a value that definitely functions when the FDD motor is driven, which will be described later. The current when driving the FDD motor is about 60
0 mA.

For this reason, if the power for driving the motor is not supplied from the AC adapter connected to the FDD which is an external device, the overcurrent protection circuit of (5) operates and the VCD is reduced. As a result, the information registered in the control pointer provided in the FD interface card or the FDD disappears.

For this reason, when the FD control pointer is confirmed in S4-10, if the overcurrent protection circuit is activated, the information becomes 00H and the process proceeds to S4-21.

Even if the information in S4-10 does not become 00H by chance, after 500 ms has passed in S4-11, S4-1
At 2 the pointer information is the value of the FDD control pointer 0
If it is not 07H when it is checked whether it is 7H, the process also proceeds to S4-21.

Only when there is no abnormality in the FDD control pointer, in steps S4-13 and S4-14, the F
D application operation is performed. And S4-
15. In steps S4-16 and S4-17, the signal M-ON, the signal VCC5EN, and the signal FDON are set to Low, the motor of the FDD is stopped, the power supply to the interface card is stopped, and the PC card controller is stopped.

If the FDD control pointer is abnormal in S4-10 and S4-12, the process proceeds to S4-21, S4-22, S4
At -23, signal M-ON, signal VCC5EN, signal FD
After turning ON, the FDD motor is stopped, the power supply to the interface card is stopped, and the PC card controller is stopped. Then, in step S4-24, the FDD abnormality message shown in FIG. Of AC adapter is not inserted.

Depending on the specifications of the FDD, the inner seek operation is performed without waiting for the transmission of the signal M-ON in S4-8, and then the automatic chucking operation is automatically performed when the FD medium is inserted. There is. For this, S
At the time when the FD is turned on at 4-1, an overcurrent state occurs at the same time, and a state occurs in which the rise of the FDD is hindered. Therefore, the process of S4-21 is started without waiting for the time of 500 ms in S4-10.

Also, while the overcurrent protection circuit (5) is functioning by the signal FDON, the PC card controller is only made to function even if the signal VCC5EN is output.
SW-2 is not energized by the W2 input gate, and S4-1
To S4-17 or S4-19 and S4-23, the overcurrent protection circuit (5) is always in operation.

Next, the operation of the card service will be described with reference to FIGS.

The card service is a utility program incorporated in the OS that is activated by each application software when the information processing apparatus operates an option card such as a memory card.

In FIG. 5, S5-1 to S5-6 correspond to S4.
The operation is the same as -1 to S4-6. If the interface card recognition information does not match in S5-6, S5-1
2, the card abnormal termination is performed in S5-13 and S5-14, which are also performed in S4-18, S4-19, and S4-20 in FIG.
This is the same operation as.

If the card recognition information of the interface matches in S5-6, the signal FDON is set to Low in S5-8 after a lapse of 5 ms again in S5-7. As a result, the energization of SW-1 in FIG. 1 is cut off, and the overcurrent protection circuit (5) stops functioning. Instead, the signal V
Since CC5EN is set to High, SW-2 is energized again, and the applied voltage VCC is supplied to the interface card as VCD.

In steps S5-9 and S5-10, the operation is performed until the application operation is completed.
The PC card controller stops its function only after the signal VCC5EN becomes low.

The interface card other than the FD is 100
A power supply capacity of up to 300 mA is required, and the overcurrent protection circuit (5) is set at 60 mA, thereby enabling stable power supply by removing the overcurrent protection circuit (5). The circuit is configured to work.

In order to recognize the operation of the overcurrent protection circuit (5) by checking the state of the register of the external device, it is not necessary to newly provide an overcurrent protection detection circuit in the information processing device. In addition, since processing can be performed in the control routine of a normal option card, software control is simplified.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an overcurrent protection circuit on the power supply line to the option, activate the option operation depending on the option-side power supply, and intentionally operate when the option-side power supply is not connected. Activate the current protection circuit and check the status flag of the option to see if the option has operated normally, and have means to confirm the operation of the overcurrent protection circuit.If the overcurrent protection circuit seems to have worked, This is an information processing apparatus having means for notifying the operator of the fact.

[0062]

According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, even when the power supply of the main unit is erroneously forgotten to connect the AC adapter or the like which is an optional power supply unit, the power supply to the main unit can be performed. Without giving heavy load
Anomalies can be notified of options, and the main body can be protected from option errors.

In realizing this function, it is not necessary to newly provide an overcurrent detection circuit only with the overcurrent protection circuit, and it is possible to minimize the cost increase.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (FD drive operation) showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (card service operation) showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation time chart (FD drive operation) of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation time chart (card service operation) of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a card abnormality notification screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an FDD abnormality notification screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the state of card state information.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information processing apparatus main body 2 External device 3 Interface card 4 AC adapter 5 Overcurrent protection circuit 6 Overcurrent protection circuit insertion line power-on signal (FDO
N) 7 Line power-on signal without overcurrent protection (VCC5E
N) 8 Card recognition information 9 Card control pointer 10 FDD motor drive signal (M-ON) 11 Display unit 12 KEY input unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H02H 3/24 G06F 1/00 333Z F-term (Reference) 5B011 EA02 EA06 EB07 GG06 HH08 JA07 JA12 5G004 AA04 AB02 BA04 DC01 DC07 DC14

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus capable of system expansion by an option such as a memory card or an FDD, wherein the information processing apparatus includes an overcurrent protection circuit in a power supply line to the option. Writing means for writing information in the information storage unit of the option before performing heavy load control in which the load of the option is generated more than the power supply amount, and reading and reading information in the information storage unit of the option after starting heavy load control An information processing apparatus comprising: means for detecting an abnormal state of the power supply of the option from a change in information in the information storage unit of the option. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the overcurrent protection circuit has a power supply means such as a two-system power supply for the option side power supply and the information processing apparatus main body side power supply. apparatus. 3. An information processing apparatus capable of system expansion by an option such as a memory card and an FDD, the information processing apparatus comprising an insertion unit for inserting an overcurrent protection circuit into a power supply line to the option. A first short-circuit / short-circuit / elimination of the overcurrent protection circuit;
Deleting means for inserting the overcurrent protection circuit into an option power supply line when power is supplied to the option, and short-circuiting or deleting the overcurrent protection circuit after a predetermined time according to the type of the option. An information processing apparatus comprising: a deletion unit. 4. A first short-circuit / short-circuit circuit for short-circuiting or deleting an overcurrent protection circuit after a predetermined time according to the type of the option.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the deletion means has no power supply means other than the information processing apparatus main body. 5. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of system expansion by an option such as a memory card, an FDD or the like, comprising an overcurrent protection circuit in a power supply line to the option, and allowing an apparatus main body to accept an overcurrent protection circuit. Before performing heavy load control in which the optional load is generated in excess of the power supply amount, write information in the optional information storage unit, read information in the optional information storage unit after starting heavy load control, and An information processing method comprising: detecting an abnormal state of the optional power supply from a change in information in an information storage unit. 6. A program for controlling an information processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of system expansion by an option such as a memory card or an FDD, comprising: an overcurrent protection circuit on a power supply line to the option; Write the information in the optional information storage unit before performing heavy load control in which the optional load occurs more than the allowable power supply amount of the main unit, and read the information in the optional information storage unit after starting heavy load control. A storage medium storing a control program of an information processing method, wherein an abnormal state of the power supply of the option is detected from a change in information in the information storage unit of the option.