JP2000099211A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable speedy operation even when the power source is off without ejecting a removable medium after the information processor is activated even when the removable medium loaded in the information processor is taken out. SOLUTION: An auxiliary input part 19 which can accept input even when the power source of the information processor 1 is off is provided for the information processor and when a request to eject a medium or a request to reproduce a music CD is made, the electric power is supplied to only the block needed for the implementation according to the operation of the auxiliary input part 19 to carry out the operation immediately with low power consumption without waiting for the OS to activate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for selecting a portion requiring an operation and supplying power to a user's operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as information has become multimedia,
CD-R for handling large amounts of data such as audio and video
Information processing apparatuses having a function of connecting and controlling a large-capacity auxiliary storage device such as an OM, a PD, an MO, and a PD internally or externally are increasing.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional information processing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 3, when playing back an audio CD using the CD-ROM drive unit 35 incorporated in the conventional information processing apparatus 3, the power of the entire information processing apparatus is turned on. First, the main power supply SW 10 is operated, and the power control unit 31 is operated.
Receives a signal from the main power supply SW 10 and instructs the power supply unit 38 to supply power to each unit of the information processing device 3. As a result, power is supplied from the power supply unit 38 to each unit of the information processing device 3, that is, the central processing unit 32, the CD-ROM drive unit 35, the audio amplifier 36, and other peripheral devices 37. O
After S is activated and the information processing device 3 is in the operating state, operating the play button 39a on the auxiliary input unit 39 and playing the music CD are started. When the power is turned off after the reproduction of the music CD is completed, the end operation is performed on the input unit 13 such as a keyboard or the main power supply SW10, and
After receiving the signal, the central processing unit 32 performs a program termination process, and then instructs the power supply control unit 31 to stop supplying power to each unit, and the power supply unit 38 stops supplying power to each unit.

Similarly, when ejecting a medium from the CD-ROM drive unit 35, after the information processing apparatus 3 is in an operable state, the eject button 39b is operated to eject the medium. Similarly, the power supply was stopped.

[0005]

However, for example, when the power is off, the CD built in the information processing apparatus is not used.
-The OS of the information processing device normally starts after turning on the main power switch even when performing extremely simple operations such as playing a music CD mounted on the ROM drive unit or simply removing the CD-ROM medium. Waiting for the information processing device to become usable, press the eject button to eject the music CD, and then need to perform normal termination processing of the information processing device. Had become.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling a power supply even when a power supply is turned off.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus which is excellent in power saving and easy to use, in which power can be supplied to only necessary blocks by simply pressing a play button or an eject button to perform an operation of playing a music CD or taking out a medium.

[0007]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising: a power supply unit configured to block an information processing apparatus by function or device, and to individually supply power to each block; Is provided. In addition, an auxiliary input unit for receiving an input even when the information processing device is off is provided, and when the power of the information processing device is off, an operation is performed by the power supply control unit when there is an input on the auxiliary input unit. And a power supply unit supplies power to the block. This allows
Power can be supplied only to the parts necessary for operation.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a power supply unit that can be divided into blocks by function or device and that can supply power to each block;
A power supply control unit that controls the power supply unit, and an auxiliary input unit that can perform key input even when the power is off, and when the auxiliary input unit is operated, the power supply control unit performs the operation. An information processing apparatus having a function of determining a necessary block, instructing the power supply unit to supply power, supplying power only to the block, and performing the operation, and reducing power consumption. It has the action of:

According to a second aspect of the present invention, at least one of the blocks requiring power supply is an auxiliary storage device using a removable medium, and the information processing device is turned off by operating the auxiliary input unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removable medium can be removed and replaced even in the state, and has an effect that the removable medium can be replaced in a short time.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 (a) is a perspective view showing an appearance of the information processing apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a front view of the auxiliary input unit when the auxiliary input unit is provided on the outer surface of the ROM drive unit.

Here, an operation example of an information processing apparatus having a CD-ROM drive section, an audio amplifier, and a speaker and capable of reproducing a music CD will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 1 includes a main power supply SW 10, a power supply control unit 11, a central processing unit 12.
, An input unit 13, a CD-ROM drive unit 15, an audio amplifier 16, other peripheral devices 17, and a power supply unit 18.
, An auxiliary input unit 19, and a speaker 20.

The main power supply SW 10 is a switch for turning on / off the operation of the entire information processing apparatus 1. If a user operates the main power supply SW 10, the power supply control unit 1 notifies that a request for on / off has been made.
Tell 1

The power control unit 11 is a microcomputer, receives a signal from the main power switch 10 or the central processing unit 12 or the auxiliary input unit 19, specifies a block necessary for executing an operation based on the operation signal, The power supply unit 18 is controlled so as to supply power to the block. The power supply control unit 11 is always supplied with power from the power supply unit 18, so that the main power supply SW can be operated even when the information processing apparatus 1 is off.
10 and the input of the auxiliary input unit 19 are monitored.

The central processing unit 12 is a CPU circuit, and includes a power control unit 11 for controlling power and a CD-ROM drive unit 15.
Control. The CD-ROM drive unit 15 is a device for reading data from a CD-ROM or reading audio data from a music CD, and receives instructions from the central processing unit 12.
Alternatively, it receives an operation signal from the auxiliary input unit 19 and
-Read data recorded in ROM or play music CD
Perform playback. When the music CD is reproduced, a sound is output from the speaker 20 through the sound amplifier 16.

The auxiliary input section 19 is located on the outer surface of the information processing apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 2 and is a section where the user operates the CD-ROM. The auxiliary input section 19 receives a user operation such as playing a CD or ejecting a medium. Power control unit 11 or CD-
The request of the user is transmitted to the ROM drive unit 15.

The audio amplifier 16 is an amplifying circuit for an analog audio signal, and amplifies an audio signal obtained by reproducing a music CD and outputs the amplified audio signal to the speaker 20.

The other peripheral device 17 is the information processing apparatus 1
Are all other blocks necessary to operate as a normal personal computer.

The power supply unit 18 is controlled by the power supply control unit 11 and individually supplies power to each block of the information processing apparatus 1.

An example of the operation of playing back a music CD stored in the CD-ROM drive unit from the state in which the main body power is off in the information processing apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

The user operates the playback button 19 of the auxiliary input unit 19
When a is pressed, the auxiliary input unit 19 sends the music C to the power control unit 11.
An operation signal requesting reproduction of D is sent. Upon receiving the music CD playback request, the power control unit 11 determines that it is necessary to supply power to the CD-ROM drive unit 15 and the audio amplifier 16 in order to play the music CD. The power supply unit 18 outputs a signal instructing supply, and the CD-ROM drive unit 15 and the audio amplifier 16
Power supply is started. The CD-ROM drive section 15 receives a reproduction signal from the auxiliary input section 19, starts reproduction of a music CD, and outputs sound from the speaker 20.

According to this configuration, the power of the central processing unit and other unnecessary peripheral devices is not turned on when the information processing apparatus is turned off, and the OS of the information processing apparatus is not turned on.
Can be played back without having to wait for normal startup of the music CD.

Although the present invention has been described using the example of the CD-ROM drive unit, the present invention is not limited to the CD-ROM,
If the D-ROM drive unit is a TV tuner and the display unit 14, it is possible to receive TV with the information processing device turned off.

Similarly, a case where the removable medium is taken out while the main body power is off will be described.

When the user presses the eject button 19b of the auxiliary input unit 19, the auxiliary input unit 19 sends an operation signal to the power supply control unit 11 requesting that the removable medium be ejected. Upon receiving the eject request, the power control unit 11
To execute the eject operation, the CD-ROM drive 15
Power supply to the power supply unit 18
The power supply unit 18 starts supplying power to the CD-ROM drive unit 15 based on this signal. The auxiliary input unit 19 also informs the CD-ROM drive unit 15 that there has been a request to eject a removable medium, and the CD-ROM drive unit 15 ejects the medium. Then, after receiving an instruction to turn off the power of the CD-ROM or after a lapse of a predetermined time, the power supply control section 11 outputs an instruction to turn off the power to the power supply section 18 to stop the power supply.

Although the present invention has been described using an example in which a CD-ROM is used, the present invention is not limited to a CD-ROM, and similar effects can be obtained with removable media such as PD, MO, and DVD. can get.

[0027]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the user performs an operation on the information processing apparatus, it is possible to energize only the part necessary for the operation for the operation. Thus, the operation of the information processing device can be performed quickly and easily, and the convenience for the user is improved. For example,
If the user wants to remove the music CD from the CD-ROM of the personal computer in the power-off state, the user simply presses the eject button of the CD-ROM, the power supply to the CD-ROM drive of the personal computer is started, and the OS is activated. Quick music C without waiting for activation
D can be ejected. Further, since power is supplied only to a portion necessary for the operation, power consumption can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a front view of an auxiliary input unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional information processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 information processing device 3 information processing device 10 main power switch 11 power control unit 12 central processing unit 13 input unit 14 display unit 15 CD-ROM drive unit 16 audio amplifier 17 other peripheral devices 18 power supply unit 19 auxiliary input unit 19a playback button 19b Eject button 20 Speaker 31 Power control unit 32 Central processing unit 35 CD-ROM drive unit 36 Audio amplifier 37 Other peripheral device 38 Power supply unit 39 Auxiliary input unit 39a Play button 39b Eject button

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A power supply unit which can be divided into blocks by function or device to supply power to each block, a power supply control unit for controlling the power supply unit, and an auxiliary key which can be key-input even when the power supply is off. An input unit is provided, when an operation is performed on the auxiliary input unit, the power supply control unit determines a block necessary to execute the operation and instructs the power supply unit to supply power, and the power supply unit An information processing apparatus having a function of supplying power only to blocks and performing the operation. At least one of the blocks requiring power supply is an auxiliary storage device using a removable medium, and even if the power of the information processing apparatus is turned off by operating the auxiliary input unit, the removable medium can be used. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus can be extracted or replaced.