JP2000222082A - Computer and method of power saving for computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve battery drive performance by suppressing power consumption as much as possible when a built-in device is not used in a portable personal computer, etc. SOLUTION: This computer contains a switch 14a which connects or releases a signal line 13a reaching a LAN device 15 being one of built-in devices from a CPU 11, a program 12b which detects the use start and use end of the device 15 and a control program 12a that has a LAN device ON (processing module) which performs connection control of the device 15 and the line 13a for the switch 14a when the use start of the device 15 is detected and a LAN device OFF (processing module) which performs open control of the switches 14a when the use end of the device 15 is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer such as a personal computer and a power saving method for the computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, software-based power saving techniques have been widely used for personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as personal computers), particularly portable personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as personal computers).

For example, a built-in device such as a hard disk drive is controlled to stop a motor when not in use.
When the display and the like are not used for a predetermined time, the screen is darkened.

[0004] However, all of these types of power saving techniques are software-based techniques in which the internal bus is connected, so that leakage current flows through the internal bus, a considerable amount of power is consumed, and the battery is consumed. This hinders the elongation of the driving time.

[0005]

As described above, in the case of the conventional computer, power saving control is only performed by software in a state where the internal bus connected to the built-in device is connected. There is a problem that leakage current flows out, and a limited amount of power is consumed, which hinders improvement in battery drive performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a computer and a computer power saving method capable of minimizing power consumption when an internal device is not used and improving battery driving performance. It is intended to be.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a computer according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a CPU.
A signal line switching means for connecting or disconnecting a signal line following the built-in device, a detecting means for detecting use start and end of use of the built-in device, and when the use means of the built-in device is detected by the detecting means, Means for controlling connection of the signal line switching means and opening control of the signal line switching means when the end of use of the built-in device is detected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer, comprising: a power supply device for supplying power to each unit including a built-in device through a power supply line; and a power supply line switch for connecting or disconnecting a power supply line from the power supply device to the built-in device. Means, detection means for detecting the start and end of use of the built-in device, and when the detection means detects the start of use of the built-in device, controls connection of the power line switching means,
Means for opening and closing the power supply line switching means when the use termination of the built-in device is detected.

The computer according to the third aspect of the present invention is a computer
A signal line switching unit for connecting or disconnecting a signal line connected to a built-in device from the PU; a power supply device for supplying power to the respective units including the CPU and the built-in device through a power supply line;
Power supply line switching means for connecting or disconnecting a power supply line connected to the built-in device from the power supply device, detection means for detecting use start and end of use of the built-in device, and detection of use start of the built-in device by the detection means If so, open control is performed on at least one of the signal line switching unit and the power line switching unit, and when the end of use of the built-in device is detected, at least one of the signal line switching unit and the power line switching unit is detected. And means for opening control for one side.

A computer according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the computer according to any one of the first to third aspects,
After the use of the built-in device is started, when the state in which the built-in device is not used continues for a predetermined time, the apparatus further comprises means for opening control to the signal line switching means or the power line switching means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power saving method for a computer having a signal line switching unit for connecting or disconnecting a signal line connected to a built-in device from a CPU. Detecting the end of use, and controlling the connection of the signal line switching unit when the start of use of the built-in device is detected by the detection unit, and switching the signal line when the end of use of the built-in device is detected. Open controlling the means.

According to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, there is provided signal line switching means for connecting or disconnecting a signal line from the CPU to the built-in device, and when the detection means detects the start of use of the built-in device, the signal line switching is performed. The connection of the means is controlled, and when the end of use of the built-in device is detected, the signal line switching means is controlled to be opened, so that the signal line can be disconnected from the built-in device when the built-in device is not used, thereby eliminating power consumption due to leakage current. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power supply line switching means for connecting or disconnecting a power supply line from the power supply device to the built-in device, and when the detection means detects the start of use of the built-in device, the power supply line switching means When the use of the built-in device is detected and the end of use of the built-in device is detected, the power line switching means is controlled to be opened, so that the power line can be disconnected from the built-in device when the built-in device is not used, thereby eliminating power consumption due to leakage current. Can be.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the signal line switching means for connecting or disconnecting a signal line from the CPU to the built-in device and the power supply line switching means for connecting or disconnecting a power line from the power supply to the built-in device are provided. When the start of use of the built-in device is detected by the detecting unit, at least one of the signal line switching unit and the power line switching unit is connected and controlled, and when the end of use of the built-in device is detected, the signal line switching unit and Since at least one of the power supply line switching means is controlled to be open, the signal line and the power supply line can be separated from the built-in device when the built-in device is not used, and power consumption due to leakage current can be eliminated.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, if the state where the built-in device is not used continues for a predetermined time after the use of the built-in device is started, the release control is performed on the signal line switching means or the power line switching means. As in the case where the end of use of the internal device is detected, the signal line and the power supply line can be disconnected from the internal device when the internal device is not used, and power consumption due to leakage current can be eliminated.

That is, not only software control, but also connection or disconnection of internal signal lines and power supply lines from the built-in device in hardware, so that power consumption when the built-in device is not used is minimized, and battery drive performance is reduced. Can be improved.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU. The CPU 11 controls the entire operation of the apparatus, and executes a program stored in the memory 12. The memory 12 is, for example, a ROM or a RAM,
Various programs and data used in this device are stored. Reference numerals 14a to 14c denote switches as signal switching means for opening or connecting the signal lines 13a to 13c and built-in devices (the LAN device 15, the external storage device 16, the display device 17, and the like). Reference numerals 18a to 18c denote switches for supplying or stopping the power from the power supply device 19 to the built-in devices.

The memory 12 has switches 14a to 14c
Device O that controls switches 18a-18c
N, a control program 12a having a processing module such as a LAN device OFF, a program 12b for detecting start of use of the built-in device and end of use of the built-in device; A program 12c for detecting the fact is stored. 13 is a signal line. These programs 12b and 12c are so-called monitoring programs, which become resident programs under the environment when the operating system (OS) is started, and always monitor the status of the built-in device.

The signal line 13 is connected to the CPU 11 and the memory 1
2. It is connected to the switches 14a to 14c and performs transmission / reception and control of data with the input device 20 and the like. Signal line 1
Reference numeral 3a denotes, for example, a PCI bus whose connection state is changed by interposing a switch 14 between itself and the signal line 13.
The signal line 13b is, for example, an IDE bus, and
The connection state is changed by interposing the switch 14 between the connection state. The signal line 13c is, for example, a VGA line,
The connection state is changed by interposing the switch 14 between the signal line 13.

The switch 14 a connects the LAN device 15 to the signal line 13 and opens the LAN device 15 from the signal line 13. The switch 14b is connected to the signal line 1
The external storage device 16 is connected to the
From the signal line 13. The switch 14c is
The display device 17 is connected to the signal line 13 or the display device 17 is connected.
From the signal line 13. LAN device 15
Is a LAN card, a modem card, or the like. The external storage device 16 includes a hard disk device (HDD), an MO,
It is a VD-RAM, a CD-RAM, or the like, and stores various programs and data. The display device 17 is a display such as a CRT or an LCD, and displays data (images, characters, and the like) on a display screen. Switches 18a-1
8 c is inserted between a built-in device (the LAN device 15, the external storage device 16, the display device 17, etc.) and the power supply 19, and transfers the power supplied from the power supply 19 to the power supply line 2.
1a to 21c through the built-in device (LAN device 1
5 or an external storage device 16 or a display device 17). The power supply 19 is, for example, a battery when the computer is a portable personal computer. The input device 20 includes a keyboard and a mouse, and inputs instructions and data to the device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the switches 14a to 14a
c and the switches 18a to 18c correspond to the programs 12a to 1
A plurality of gates (switches) are turned on (connected) by the register 50 in which information is written from the BIOS received the instruction from 2c and the register 50 in which the information is written.
And a logical switch group 51 that is controlled to be turned off (open).

Hereinafter, the operation of the computer will be described. In order to make the description easy to understand, it is assumed that the computer of the present embodiment is connected to a network such as a LAN, and an operation example for the LAN device 15 will be described.

First, referring to FIG.
The operation from the start of use of the LAN device 15 by the login to the use of the LAN device 15 will be described.

In the case of this computer, as shown in FIG. 3, the user performs a login operation on the network (S100), and the program 12b starts the use of the LAN device 15 by the login and uses the built-in device 15 on the network. When the end is detected (S10
1), LAN device 15ON of control program 12a
Is called.

In this LAN device ON, first, the switch 18a is ON-controlled, that is, an instruction is sent to the BIOS, and information is sent from the BIOS to the switch 18a.
When this information is set in the register 50, the plurality of switches 51 are turned ON, and as a result, the power supply 19
From the LAN device 15 through the power line 21a.
(S102).

Subsequently, the LAN device ON controls (instructs) the switch 14a in the same manner as the switch 18a,
The AN device 15 is connected to the signal line 13a (S10
3). As a result, the LAN device 15 is supplied with power and is connected to the CPU 11 and becomes usable.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, description will be given of an operation from detecting the end of use of the LAN device 15 by Logout from the network to disabling the LAN device 15.

As shown in FIG. 4, a logout operation to the network is performed by the user (S200), and the program 12b instructs the end of the use of the LAN device 15 by the logout from the network to start the use of the built-in device 15 and the use of the built-in device 15. When the program 12b for detecting the end of use is detected (S201), a processing module called LAN device OFF of the control program 12a is called.

To turn off the LAN device, first, the switch 14a is controlled to connect the LAN device 15 from the signal line 13.
Is released (S202).

Next, when the LAN device is turned off, the switch 18a is controlled to connect the LAN device 15 to the power supply line 21.
a and release LA from the power supply device 19 by software.
The power supply to the N device 15 is stopped (S20
3). As a result, there is no leakage current to the LAN device 15 and no power is consumed here.

Next, a description will be given of the operation from detecting that the LAN device 15 has not been used for a certain period of time when there is no access to the network for a certain period of time, and disabling the LAN device 15.

As shown in FIG. 5, it is detected that the LAN device 15 has not been used for a certain period of time due to no access to the network for a certain period of time.
It is a flowchart until it becomes unusable.

In this case, when the program 12c detects that the LAN device 15 has not been used for a certain period of time because there is no access to the network for a certain period of time (S300), a processing module called LAN device OFF of the control program 12a is activated. Be called.

To turn off the LAN device, first, the switch 14a is controlled to connect the LAN device 15 to the signal line 13a.
Is released (S302).

Next, when the LAN device is turned off, the switch 18a is controlled so that the power supply device 19 sends the LAN device 1 off.
5 is stopped (S303). This allows
There is no leakage current to the LAN device 15 and no power consumption here.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, after the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed, it is detected that the use of the LAN device 15 has been resumed due to the resumption of access to the network. The operation until the LAN device 15 becomes usable will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the access to the network is resumed (S400) and the program 12c detects that the use of the LAN device 15 is resumed (S401), the control program 12a calls the LAN device ON. The processing module is called.

First, when the LAN device is ON, the switch 1
The power from the power supply 19 is supplied to the LAN device 15 by using 8a (S402).

Subsequently, the LAN device ON connects the LAN device 15 to the signal line 13a using the switch 14a (S403). Thereby, the LAN device 1
5 is in a usable state.

As described above, according to this computer, the program 12b detects the start of use of the LAN device 15 by the Login to the network, and the LAN device ON first turns on the switch 14a and turns on the signal line 1
3a to the LAN device 15 and then switch 1
8a, the power supply line 21a is connected to the LAN device 15, the power is supplied from the power supply device 19 to the LAN device 15, and the end of the use of the LAN device 15 by the logout from the network is detected.
The N-device OFF turns off the switch 14a, disconnects the LAN device 15 from the signal line 13a, and then turns off the switch 18a to disconnect the power supply line 21a from the power supply 19, thereby supplying power to the LAN device 15 or leaking leakage current. Is stopped, so that the LAN device 1
There is no current flowing into 5 and there is no power consumption here.

After starting to use the LAN device 15,
If there is no network access for a predetermined time or more, the program 12c detects this, and the switch 14a is turned off and the LAN
Since the device 15 is opened, the switch 18a is subsequently turned off, and the power supply from the power supply 19 to the LAN device 15 is stopped. Thereafter, no current leaks to the LAN device 15, and the power consumption here is reduced. Disappears.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the leakage current to the LAN device 15 is eliminated as a built-in device. In addition, the switches 18b and 18c connected to the external storage device 16, the display device 17, and the like are described. The same control as described above is also performed on the switches 14b and 14c of the signal lines 13b and 13c.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, not only software control, but also connection or disconnection of internal signal lines and power supply lines with built-in devices by hardware makes it possible to reduce the use of built-in devices. Sometimes, leakage current does not flow into the built-in device from the circuit side or the power supply device side, so that power consumption can be suppressed as much as possible and battery drive performance can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view showing the configuration of a computer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a switch in the computer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of Login in the computer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of Logout in the computer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the computer when there is no access to a network for a predetermined time.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the computer when access to the network is resumed.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 CPU, 12 memory, 12a to 12c program, 13, 13a to 13c signal line, 14a to 14c
... Switch, 15 LAN device, 16 external storage device, 17 display device, 18a to 18c switch, 19
... power supply device, 20 ... input device, 21a-21c ... power line.

Continued on the front page (72) Koji Morita, Inventor 1-1-1, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Inside the head office of Toshiba Corporation (72) Inventor Takayuki Nakashima 3-3-1, Shinmachi, Ome-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Computer Engineering Co., Ltd. In-house F term (reference) 5B011 EA09 EB06 KK03 MA02 MA03 MA04 MA06 5B019 CA07 CA08

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A signal line switching unit for connecting or disconnecting a signal line from a CPU to a built-in device, a detecting unit detecting start and end of use of the built-in device, and a start of use of the built-in device by the detecting unit A connection control unit that controls connection of the signal line switching unit when the signal line switching unit is detected, and controls opening of the signal line switching unit when the end of use of the built-in device is detected. 2. A power supply for supplying power to each unit including a built-in device through a power supply line, a power supply line switching unit for connecting or disconnecting a power supply line from the power supply to the built-in device, and using the built-in device Detecting means for detecting start and end of use, when the detection means detects the start of use of the built-in device, controls connection of the power line switching means, and when the end of use of the built-in device is detected, Means for controlling opening of the power supply line switching means. 3. A signal line switching unit for connecting or disconnecting a signal line connected to a built-in device from a CPU, a power supply device for supplying power to each unit including the CPU and the built-in device through a power supply line, Power supply line switching means for connecting or disconnecting a power supply line following the built-in device; detecting means for detecting use start and end of use of the built-in device; when the use means detects the start of use of the built-in device, Open control is performed on at least one of the signal line switching unit and the power line switching unit, and when the end of use of the built-in device is detected, the opening is performed on at least one of the signal line switching unit and the power line switching unit. A computer comprising: means for controlling. 4. The detecting means includes means for performing release control on the signal line switching means or the power supply line switching means when a state in which the built-in device is not used continues for a predetermined time after the use of the built-in device is started. The computer according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. A power saving method for a computer having a signal line switching unit for connecting or disconnecting a signal line connected to a built-in device from a CPU, comprising: a step of detecting use start and end of use of the built-in device; Controlling the connection of the signal line switching means when the start of use of the built-in device is detected, and controlling the opening of the signal line switching means when the end of use of the built-in device is detected. Computer power saving method.