JP2000181739A - Device and method for switching mother board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the mother board switching device which switches an abnormal mother board to a standby mother board by connecting a 1st and 2nd mother boards and switching the 1st mother board to the 2nd mother board together with external peripheral equipment if the 1st mother board becomes abnormal. SOLUTION: The 1st mother board 10 is connected for normal operation through a connector and controls external peripheral devices 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32. The 2nd mother board 12 is connected for maintenance through a connector. An abnormality detecting circuit 18 manages the operation state of the 1st mother board 10 and outputs a signal to a switching circuit 20 after detecting abnormality of the 1st mother board 10. A switching circuit 20 receives the signal from the abnormality detecting circuit 18 and switches the 1st mother board 10 to the 2nd mother board 12. The connections of the external peripheral devices 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 can be switched from the 1st mother board 10 to the 2nd mother board 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a motherboard switching apparatus and method for switching to a spare motherboard when a motherboard malfunctions by providing a switching circuit on a backboard of a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional switching method of a control system device of a personal computer is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-198936. The control system backup method of the multiplexing device described in this publication discloses a CPU that performs main control, a ROM that stores a control program, a RAM that stores data, and an I / O that interfaces data exchange between external peripheral devices. A first control system having the same function as the first control system, and a second control system which is a backup of the first control system, and which is common to the first control system and the second control system. And a switching circuit that connects the first control system and the second control system via a bus and switches to the second control system when an abnormality occurs in the first control system. When an abnormality occurs in the first control system, the switching circuit detects an abnormality in the first control system and switches the bus to the second control system.

The above-mentioned control system backup method of the multiplexing apparatus is used for a large system or the like, and is not applied to a personal computer or the like. The conventional motherboard switching of a personal computer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
It is a figure showing switching of the conventional motherboard. A motherboard 34 having a CPU for performing main control, a ROM for storing a control program, a RAM for storing data, and an I / O board for interfacing data with external peripheral devices and the like, and an interface between the motherboard 34 and external peripheral devices. And a back board 36. In the conventional personal computer, when replacing the motherboard 36, the power of the personal computer is turned off, the main body cover is removed, and the motherboard 34 is replaced.

[0004]

When a personal computer is connected to a 24-hour unattended operation system and a motherboard has an abnormality, it is necessary to turn off the power of the main body and replace the motherboard when an abnormality occurs in the motherboard. The system was down until the maintenance personnel responded. In order to avoid this, two backup personal computers are required, or a maintenance motherboard must be stocked outside. In addition, in the control system backup method of the multiplexing device, switching of external peripheral devices is not always smooth because only the bus connection is changed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a motherboard switching device and a method for switching to a spare motherboard when the motherboard has an abnormality by providing a switching circuit on the backboard.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A motherboard switching device according to the present invention includes a CPU for performing main control of a personal computer, a ROM for storing a control program, a RAM for storing data, and an I / O for enabling exchange between external peripheral devices. A first motherboard having at least an O board, a second motherboard having a configuration similar to that of the first motherboard, and serving as a backup of the first motherboard; the first motherboard and the second motherboard; A backboard connected to a motherboard, detecting an abnormality of the first motherboard, and switching to the second motherboard together with external peripheral devices when the first motherboard becomes abnormal.

A method of switching a motherboard according to the present invention includes a first motherboard for controlling and operating a personal computer, a second motherboard for backing up the first motherboard, the first motherboard and a second motherboard. And a backboard capable of switching between the first motherboard and the second motherboard by connecting an external peripheral device having at least a printer device, a communication device, a mouse, a key input device, and a display device. A motherboard switching method for a motherboard switching device, comprising: a motherboard changeover switch capable of determining whether or not the first motherboard is operating normally; If the motherboard stops operating normally, it will be notified as abnormal and Notification by and switches together with the external peripheral device to said second motherboard.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a motherboard switching device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the motherboard switching device includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and other components that constitute a basic configuration of a computer, and a connector that can input and output data to and from external peripheral devices. And the first motherboard 10 having the same configuration as the first motherboard 10.
A second motherboard 12 that operates when the device goes down;
The first motherboard 10 and the second motherboard 12 are connected via a connector and have an interface capable of exchanging data with external peripheral devices.
The motherboard 10 includes a backboard 14 that switches to the second motherboard 12 when the motherboard 10 goes down, and a motherboard switch 16 that is connected to the backboard 14 and that manually switches the first motherboards 10 and 12. .

The backboard 14 includes an abnormality detection circuit 18 for detecting whether the first motherboard 10 or the second motherboard 12 is abnormal, and an abnormality detection circuit 18
A switching circuit 20 for switching the motherboard when an abnormality is detected in the motherboard 10 and the second motherboard 12, and a peripheral device interface for performing an interface to another external peripheral device in addition to an interface to an external peripheral device provided on the backboard 14. And an extension card 22. The external peripheral devices include a display device 24 that displays data processed by the motherboard, a key input device 26 that is a keyboard capable of inputting data to the motherboard by pressing keys, a mouse 28 that is a pointing device, the Internet, and the like. The communication device 30 includes a communication device 30 that can communicate with a printer, and a printer device 32 that outputs a result processed by a motherboard or the like to paper or the like.

The first motherboard 10 is connected via a connector for normal operation, and controls a display device 24, a key input device 26, a mouse 26, a communication device 30, and a printer device 32. The second motherboard 12 is connected via a connector for maintenance.

The abnormality detection circuit 18 manages the operating state of the first motherboard 10 and outputs a signal to the switching circuit 20 after the abnormality of the motherboard 10 is detected. The switching circuit 20
Upon receiving a signal from the abnormality detection circuit 18, the switching circuit 20 switches from the first motherboard 10 to the second motherboard 12. Therefore, the display device 24, the key input device 26, and the mouse 2 are transferred from the motherboard 10 to the second motherboard 12.
8, connection switching between the communication device 30 and the printer device 32 is possible.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a signal from the first motherboard 10 and a signal from the second motherboard 12 are input to the switching circuit 20. Abnormality detection circuit 1
8, when an abnormality detection signal of the first motherboard 10 is input, the abnormality detection circuit 18 sends a signal to the switching circuit 20 to which the signal of the first motherboard 10 and the signal of the second motherboard 12 are connected. The switching signal is output to the switching circuit 20. The switching circuit 20 disconnects the signal connection of the first motherboard 10 and connects to the signal of the second motherboard 12. The output signal of the switching circuit 20 switches to the signal of the second motherboard 12. Second motherboard 12
Controls the display device 24, the key input device 26, the mouse 28, the communication device 30, and the printer device 32.

Next, the operation of another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the operation of another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, a peripheral device interface expansion card 22 for a display device, a key input device, a mouse, a communication device, and a printer device is connected to an additional connector on the backboard 14, and thus the first embodiment is performed. The motherboard 10 and the second motherboard 12 can be operated simultaneously, and a single personal computer can realize the functions of two motherboards. The motherboard changeover switch 16 can be switched to the second motherboard 12 by a manual operation, and can be simultaneously switched.

Signals from the first motherboard 10 and the second motherboard 12 are connected to a switching circuit 20.
The changeover switch 16 is connected to the changeover circuit 20. The extension signal of the switching circuit 20 is connected to the peripheral device interface extension card 22. The peripheral board interface expansion card 22 has a connector corresponding to the second motherboard 12 and capable of further connecting other external peripheral devices such as a display device, a key input device, a mouse, a communication device, and a printer device. The changeover switch 16 outputs a signal of the second motherboard 12 to the peripheral interface expansion card 22 according to the setting, so that the first motherboard 10 and the second motherboard 12 can be used simultaneously. The changeover switch 16 inputs the motherboard 2 valid changeover signal 51 to the changeover circuit 32 of the backboard 3. The switching circuit 32 of the backboard 3 connects a signal from the first motherboard 10 to a peripheral device connector on the backboard 14 as a switching circuit output signal. The signal of the second motherboard 12 is connected to the peripheral device interface expansion card 22 as an expansion signal of the switching circuit 20. The peripheral device interface expansion card 22 is connected to the second motherboard 12.
Connect to the peripheral device from the signal of.

[0015]

According to the motherboard switching device of the present invention, a plurality of motherboards can be switched by detecting an abnormality of the motherboard with an abnormality detection circuit on the backboard and automatically switching the power on. The system downtime during operation will be reduced. Also,
When the motherboard is switched because the switching is performed on the backboard, the external peripheral device can be simultaneously transferred to the maintenance motherboard as it is.

The maintenance motherboard can be used as a second personal computer by adding a peripheral device interface expansion card 22, so that one space has the functions of two units.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a motherboard switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating switching of a conventional motherboard.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 first motherboard 12 second motherboard 14 backboard 16 motherboard changeover switch 18 abnormality detection circuit 20 changeover circuit 22 peripheral device interface expansion card 24 display device 26 key input device 28 mouse 30 communication device 32 printer device 34 motherboard 36 backboard

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takayuki Furuhashi 1-1-1 Shinurashima-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa F-term in NEC Robot Engineering Co., Ltd. 5B034 BB02 CC01 DD01

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A CPU for performing main control of a personal computer, a ROM for storing a control program, and an R for storing data.
I / O that enables exchange between AM and external peripheral devices
A first motherboard having at least a board, a second motherboard having a configuration similar to that of the first motherboard, and serving as a backup for the first motherboard; a first motherboard and the second motherboard And a backboard for detecting an abnormality of the first motherboard, and switching to the second motherboard together with external peripheral devices when the first motherboard becomes abnormal. 2. The abnormality detection circuit, wherein the backboard detects a signal including control data from the first motherboard, detects an abnormality of the first motherboard from the signal, and notifies the abnormality of the first motherboard; 2. The motherboard switching device according to claim 1, further comprising: a switching circuit for switching between control of the personal computer and the external peripheral device from the first motherboard to the second motherboard upon receiving the notification. 3. A CPU for performing main control of a personal computer, a ROM for storing a control program, and an R for storing data.
I / O that enables exchange between AM and external peripheral devices
A first motherboard having at least a board, a second motherboard having a configuration similar to that of the first motherboard, and serving as a backup for the first motherboard; a first motherboard and the second motherboard And a backboard that switches to the second motherboard together with an external peripheral device when the first motherboard becomes abnormal, and is connected to the backboard, and the first motherboard detects an abnormality in the first motherboard. A motherboard changeover switch capable of switching between a motherboard and the second motherboard; and a second switch connected to the backboard, wherein the first motherboard and the second motherboard operate simultaneously. A peripheral device interface that allows the connection of the motherboard to other external peripheral devices Motherboard switching apparatus characterized by comprising: a scan expansion card, the. 4. The abnormality detection circuit, wherein the backboard detects a signal including control data from the first motherboard, detects an abnormality of the first motherboard from the signal, and notifies the abnormality of the first motherboard; A switching circuit for switching between control of the personal computer and the external peripheral device from the first motherboard to the second motherboard upon receipt of the notification, and switching between the first motherboard and the second motherboard; 4. The motherboard according to claim 3, wherein the switching can be performed by the switching circuit and the motherboard switching switch, and the first motherboard and the second motherboard can be simultaneously operably switched. Switching device. 5. A first motherboard for controlling and operating a personal computer, a second motherboard for backing up the first motherboard, the first motherboard, the second motherboard, and external peripherals A motherboard switching method in a motherboard switching device, comprising: a backboard that is connected to a device to switch between the first motherboard and the second motherboard; and a motherboard switch that is capable of performing the switching. The backboard determines whether the first motherboard is operating normally, and notifies the first motherboard that the first motherboard does not operate normally as abnormal as a result of the determination. A motherboard for switching to a second motherboard together with the external peripheral device. Mode switching method. 6. The motherboard switching method according to claim 5, wherein switching between the first motherboard and the second motherboard is performed by the motherboard switch. 7. The motherboard switching method according to claim 5, wherein the first motherboard and the second motherboard can operate simultaneously.