JP2001042978A - Electronic apparatus, power-saving control method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus, a power-saving control method, and a storage medium which can reduce power consumption by placing the apparatus in a power-saving state according to its use state without letting a user being aware of that only through operation for closing a lid or lifting the apparatus. SOLUTION: This apparatus has a lid opening/closing sensor 5 which detects the lid of the apparatus being opened or closed, a lift sensor 6 which detects the equipment being lifted, a power controller 14 which powers ON the apparatus when the apparatus is placed on a desk or the like, and a CPU 1 which puts the apparatus in a sleep state when the lid closed, in a hibernation state wherein the power consumption is less than that in the sleep state when the apparatus is lifted, back into the sleep state from the hibernation state when the apparatus is placed on the desk or the like, and back into a normal state fast when the lid is opened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electronic device, a power saving control method, and a storage medium, and more particularly, to a portable electronic device having a power saving mechanism, a power saving control method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, the following functions have been used as a power saving mechanism for reducing power consumption. (1) Sleep: stop of backlight of liquid crystal display device, stop of motor of disk device, stop of CPU (2) Suspend: power off of many other devices in addition to the above (3) Hibernation: all memory to disk device Write, power off all devices These functions can create a state that consumes no power in the order of sleep>suspend> hibernation.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. In other words, there is a problem that the above three power saving functions take a long time to save and restore the state in inverse proportion thereto. In particular, in hibernation, in recent years, the number of memories mounted on an information processing apparatus has increased, so that saving and restoring may take several minutes. Since the return from these states is not performed unless explicitly instructed by the user, the user has to wait a few minutes after pressing the switch when returning from hibernation. Also, the operation is complicated.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and merely switches the lid and lifts up the device, without any user's consciousness, and switches to a power saving state according to the use state of the device. A first object is to provide an electronic device, a power saving control method, and a storage medium that can reduce power consumption by making a transition (transition from a sleep state to a hibernation state).

Further, the present invention automatically shifts from a hibernation state to a sleep state when a device is placed and waits, so that the next time the user opens the lid and tries to use the device, the normal hibernation mode is set. It is a second object of the present invention to provide an electronic device, a power saving control method, and a storage medium capable of returning to a normal state in a much shorter time than returning from a state.

Further, the present invention provides an electronic apparatus capable of reducing power consumption by automatically transiting to a hibernation state again when the apparatus is left idle for a long time while waiting in a sleep state. A third object is to provide a method and a storage medium.

Further, according to the present invention, at the time of transition to the hibernation state, the process of writing all the memories to the disk required in the normal hibernation process is skipped, thereby achieving high speed and minimizing power consumption. A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device, a power saving control method, and a storage medium capable of shifting to a hibernation state without change.

[0008]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus having a plurality of power-saving states, the electronic apparatus having a plurality of power-saving states, the electronic apparatus being provided in a main body of the electronic apparatus, and capable of operating the electronic apparatus. A state detecting means for detecting a state of a necessary accessory part, a lifting detecting means for detecting that the electronic device main body is lifted, and a state where the accessory part is in a non-operation state is detected by the state detecting means. If the electronic device main body is lifted by the lifting detection means, the state is shifted to the first power saving state, and the state is changed to the second power saving state with less power consumption than the first power saving state. Power saving control means for shifting.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to a second aspect of the present invention provides the electronic device main body, wherein the accessory portion is a cover which is openably and closably mounted on the electronic device main body and which is necessary for operating the electronic device. Detects the opening and closing of the lid as the incidental part, the power saving control means shifts to the first power saving state when the state detecting means detects that the lid is closed, When the lifting detection means detects that the electronic device main body is lifted, the electronic device main body is shifted to the second power saving state which consumes less power than the first power saving state.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 3 further comprises the step of determining whether the electronic device main body is placed on a desk or the like based on a change in the state of the lifting detecting means. Power-supply control means for turning on the power of the main body, wherein the power-saving control means changes from the second power-saving state to the first power-saving state when the electronic device main body is placed on a desk or the like. And then returning to the normal state at a higher speed the next time the lid is opened.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 4 further comprises a clock means for clocking that the first power saving state has continued for a predetermined time or more, and the power saving control means. Is characterized in that when the time keeping means measures a certain period of time while waiting in the first power saving state, the state is shifted to the second power saving state again to reduce power consumption.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the first power saving state is that the backlight of the display mounted on the lid is stopped / the electronic device main body is mounted. The second power-saving state is a sleep state in which the motor of the disk device is stopped / the CPU mounted on the electronic device main body is stopped, and the second power saving state means that all the memories mounted on the electronic device main body are transferred to the disk device. It is characterized in that the device is in a hibernation state in which all writing devices are powered off.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, when the power saving control means shifts to the second power saving state again, the hibernation immediately before on the disk device is performed. It is characterized by simplifying the process using information and performing a state transition at high speed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 7 further comprises a direction detecting means for detecting a direction of the main body of the electronic device with respect to the ground, wherein the power supply control means comprises: The power of the electronic device main body is turned on only when it is detected that the electronic device main body is placed with the bottom part down.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that it is applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power saving control method applied to an electronic device having a plurality of power saving states. A state detecting step of detecting a state of an accessory part required for operation, a lifting detecting step of detecting that the electronic device body is lifted, and a state that the accessory part is in a non-operating state in the state detecting step. If detected, shift to the first power saving state, and if the lifting detection step detects that the electronic device main body has been lifted, the second power saving mode which consumes less power than the first power saving state And a power saving control step of shifting to a state.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the accessory portion is a cover which is provided on the electronic device main body so as to be openable and closable and which is necessary for operating the electronic device.
In the state detection step, the opening / closing of the lid as the incidental part is detected, and in the power saving control step, when it is detected that the lid is closed in the state detection step, the first power saving state is detected. If the electronic device main body is detected to be lifted in the lifting detection step, the electronic device body is shifted to the second power saving state which consumes less power than the first power saving state. .

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention further provides the electronic device when it is determined that the electronic device main body is placed on a desk or the like based on a change in the state of the lifting detection step. A power control step of turning on the power of the main body, wherein in the power saving control step, when the electronic device main body is placed on a desk or the like, the second power saving state is changed to the first power saving state. And then returning to the normal state at a higher speed the next time the lid is opened.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 12 further comprises a time counting step for counting that the first power saving state has continued for a predetermined time or more. Then, when it is determined in the timing step that a predetermined time has elapsed while waiting in the first power saving state, the state is shifted to the second power saving state again to reduce power consumption.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the first power saving state may be that the backlight of the display mounted on the lid is stopped / the electronic device main body is mounted. The second power-saving state is a sleep state in which the motor of the disk device is stopped / the CPU mounted on the electronic device main body is stopped, and the second power saving state means that all the memories mounted on the electronic device main body are transferred to the disk device. It is characterized in that the device is in a hibernation state in which all writing devices are powered off.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is that, in the power saving control step, when shifting to the second power saving state again, the hibernation immediately before on the disk device is performed. It is characterized by simplifying the process using information and performing a state transition at high speed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 15 further comprises a direction detecting step for detecting a direction of the electronic device main body with respect to the ground, wherein the power control step includes the step of detecting the direction. The power of the electronic device main body is turned on only when it is detected that the electronic device main body is placed with the bottom part down.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that it can be applied to an information processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a power saving control method applied to an electronic device having a plurality of power saving states. A medium, wherein the power saving control method includes: a state detection step of detecting a state of an auxiliary part provided in the electronic device main body and required for operation of the electronic device; and a lifting step of detecting that the electronic device main body is lifted. In the detection step, when it is detected in the state detection step that the incidental portion is in the non-operation state, the state is shifted to the first power saving state, and the electronic device body is lifted in the lift detection step. A power saving control step of shifting to a second power saving state with less power consumption than the first power saving state if detected. And butterflies.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 18, wherein the accessory portion is a lid which is provided on the electronic device main body so as to be openable and closable and which is necessary for operating the electronic device.
In the state detection step, the opening / closing of the lid as the incidental part is detected, and in the power saving control step, when it is detected that the lid is closed in the state detection step, the first power saving state is detected. If the electronic device main body is detected to be lifted in the lifting detection step, the electronic device body is shifted to the second power saving state which consumes less power than the first power saving state. .

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 19, in the power saving control method, the electronic device main body is placed on a desk or the like based on a state change in the lifting detection step. A power control step of turning on the power of the electronic device main body when it is determined, wherein the power saving control step includes, when the electronic device main body is placed on a desk or the like, from the second power saving state. It is characterized in that the state is shifted to the first power saving state, and then the state is returned to the normal state more quickly when the lid is opened.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, the power saving control method further comprises a timing step of timing that the first power saving state has continued for a predetermined time or more. Then, in the power saving control step, when it is timed that a predetermined time has elapsed while waiting in the first power saving state in the time counting step, the state is again shifted to the second power saving state in order to reduce power consumption. It is characterized by the following.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention according to claim 21, the first power saving state means that the backlight of the display mounted on the lid is stopped / the electronic device main body is mounted. The second power-saving state is a sleep state in which the motor of the disk device is stopped / the CPU mounted on the electronic device main body is stopped, and the second power saving state means that all the memories mounted on the electronic device main body are transferred to the disk device. It is characterized in that the device is in a hibernation state in which all writing devices are powered off.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 22, in the power saving control step, when shifting to the second power saving state again, the hibernation immediately before on the disk device. It is characterized by simplifying the process using information and performing a state transition at high speed.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the power saving control method further comprises a direction detecting step of detecting a direction of the electronic device main body with respect to the ground, and The step is characterized in that the electronic device main body is turned on only when it is detected in the orientation detection step that the electronic device main body is placed with the bottom part down.

To achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 24 is characterized in that it can be applied to an information processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer.

[0032]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a device (information processing apparatus) according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which best illustrates the features of the present invention. Apparatus (information processing apparatus) according to the first embodiment of the present invention
Are a CPU 1, a RAM 2, a ROM 3, an interrupt controller 4, a lid open / close sensor 5, a lifting sensor 6, a sensor controller 7, a keyboard 8, and a keyboard controller (hereinafter referred to as KB).
C) 9, disk device 10, disk control device (hereinafter H
DC) 11, a liquid crystal display device 12, a liquid crystal control device 13, a power control device 14, a battery 15, a power switch 16, and a system bus 20.

More specifically, the CPU 1 is a central processing unit that controls the above components via the system bus 20, and controls the execution of the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. The RAM 2 is used as a work area and a temporary storage area for the CPU 1. The ROM 3 stores a control program. The interrupt control device 4 generates an interrupt signal to the CPU 1 based on the interrupt request. The lid opening / closing sensor 5 detects the opening / closing of a lid portion (a portion of a display or the like that is openably and closably mounted on the device body) of the device (information processing device). The lifting sensor 6 detects that the device (information processing device) has been lifted. The sensor control device 7 monitors the states of the lid opening / closing sensor 5 and the lifting sensor 6.

The keyboard 8 is used for inputting various data. The KBC 9 controls data input from the keyboard 8. The disk device 10 is used as external storage means. The HDC 11 controls writing / reading of data to / from the disk device 10. Liquid crystal display device 12
Performs various displays. The liquid crystal control device 13 outputs a signal to the liquid crystal display device 12. The power control device 14 controls power supply to devices (information processing devices). Battery 15
Is a power supply used in each unit of the device (information processing device). The power switch 16 turns on / off the power.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) which is a specific example of a device (information processing apparatus) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the notebook personal computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the lid open / close sensor 5 is configured by a push switch or the like, and detects the state of the lid by being pressed / opened by opening / closing the lid. Similarly, the lifting sensor 6 is also constituted by a push switch or the like, and when the device (notebook personal computer) is placed on the floor, it can be pressed down by the weight of the device and can detect the placed state.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a conceptual example in which the program and related data of the present invention are supplied to the apparatus from a storage medium. The program and related data of the present invention are stored in a storage medium 131 such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM in the device 1.
It is supplied by being inserted into the storage medium drive insertion slot 133 provided in the 32. Thereafter, the program and related data of the present invention are temporarily installed on the hard disk from the storage medium 131 and loaded into the RAM from the storage medium 131, or directly loaded into the RAM without being installed on the hard disk, thereby obtaining the program and related data of the present invention. Can be executed.

In this case, when the program of the present invention is executed in the device (information processing apparatus) according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the second to third embodiments described below,
For example, the program and the related data of the present invention are supplied to the device (information processing device) according to the procedure shown in FIG. 13, or the program and the related data of the present invention are stored in the device (information processing device) in advance. By doing so, the program can be executed.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the storage contents of the storage medium storing the program and related data of the present invention. The storage medium of the present invention is, for example, volume information 1
21, directory information 122, a program execution file 123, a program-related data file 124, and the like. The program according to the present invention is described in FIGS. 3 to 6 (first embodiment) and FIGS.
This is coded based on the flowchart of the embodiment.

Each component in the claims of the present invention, the first embodiment of the present invention, and the second
Correspondence with each unit of the device (information processing device) according to the third embodiment is as follows. The power saving control means is C
PU1, state detecting means corresponds to the cover opening / closing sensor 5, lifting detecting means corresponds to the lifting sensor 6, power control means corresponds to the power control device 14, time measuring means corresponds to the timer 17, The detecting means corresponds to the gravity sensor 18.

Next, the first embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above is described.
The operation of the device (information processing apparatus) according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a program for transitioning a device (information processing device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention to a power saving state when the lid is closed and when the device is lifted. It is a flowchart. The description will be made with reference to FIG.

First, when the lid of the device (information processing device) is closed, the state of the lid open / close sensor 5 changes. Upon detecting this state change, the sensor control device 7 issues an interrupt request to the interrupt control device 4. Then, the interrupt control device 4 generates an interrupt signal to the CPU 1, and the interrupt process of step S31 in FIG. 3 is started. This interrupt process is a process of shifting to “sleep”, and power saving is realized by turning off the power of some devices that consume a large amount of power. First, in step S32, the liquid crystal display device 12
Turn off the backlight. Next, in step S33, the rotation of the motor of the disk device 10 is stopped. Next, in step S34, the operation of the CPU 1 is stopped, and in step S35, the HALT state is set.

Next, when the equipment is lifted in this state,
The state of the lifting sensor 6 changes. Sensor control device 7
When this state change is detected, an interrupt request is issued to the interrupt control device 4. Then, the interrupt control device 4 generates an interrupt signal to the CPU 1, and this signal
PU1 returns from the HALT state. Then, the interrupt processing of step S36 in FIG. 4 is started. This interruption process is a process of shifting to “hibernation”, and reads the states of all devices, saves them in the disk device 10, and finally turns off the power of all devices. First, in step S37, the state of the lid open / close sensor 5 is read. If the lid is open, it is likely that you will start using it as soon as you lift and move the equipment, so quit without doing anything. If the lid is closed, it can be predicted that it was in the sleep state immediately before, and the process shifts to the hibernation process.

That is, in step S38, the registers of all devices mounted on the device are saved in the RAM (memory) 2. Next, in step S39, R
All the contents of AM2 are written to the disk device 10. Next, in step S310, a flag indicating that the device is in the hibernation state is written in the disk device 10. Then, when all the states are saved, in step S311, the power supply control unit 14 is instructed to turn off the power.

Next, the operation for restoring the state of the device will be described. FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts of a program for returning the device from the power saving state when the device (information processing device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention is placed and the lid is opened. .

When the device (information processing device) is placed on the floor,
The state of the lifting sensor 6 changes, and the power supply control device 14 that detects this change turns on the power of the device. Then, the device starts the boot process. At the beginning, in step S42 of FIG. 5, the flag in the disk device 10 written in step S310 of FIG. 4 is read. If the flag indicates a boot process, the process proceeds to step S43, where a normal boot process is performed. If the flag indicates hibernation, the process proceeds to step S44, and first, the flag in the disk device 10 is returned to the boot processing state in preparation for the next boot processing.

Next, in step S45, all the data stored in step S39 of FIG. 4 is read out from the disk device 10 and restored on the RAM 2. Next, in step S46, the states of all devices are restored. Next, in step S47, the state of the lid of the device is detected. If the lid is open, the user immediately tries to use the device, and the device returns to the normal use state. On the other hand, if the lid is closed, it is assumed that the user does not use the device, so that step S
In steps 49 to S411, step S32 in FIG.
Processing for entering the sleep state is performed in the same manner as in step S34. Then, in the sleep state, the apparatus waits until the user starts using the apparatus.

Next, when the user opens the lid, the state of the lid opening / closing sensor 5 changes, and the sensor control device 7 that has detected this change issues an interrupt request to the interrupt control device 4. Then, the interrupt control device 4 generates an interrupt signal to the CPU 1, and the CPU 1 returns to the normal operation state by this signal, and the processes after step S413 in FIG. 6 are executed. First, in step S414, the liquid crystal display device 12
Turn on the backlight. Then, step S415
Returns to the normal state.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the user's operation and the transition of the state of the device (information processing device) described so far according to the first embodiment of the present invention in association with each other. At 52 in FIG. 7, when the user closes the lid of the device (information processing device), it is determined that the device is not used for a short time, and the device shifts to the sleep state. Next, at 53, when the user lifts the device, it is determined that the device is not used for the time being, and the device shifts to the hibernation state, and the power of all devices is turned off. Next, at 54, when the user places the device on a desk or the like, the device returns from the hibernation state assuming that the device will be used next, and returns to the sleep state and waits. Then, at 55, when the user opens the lid of the device, the device returns from the sleep state and can quickly return to the normal state.

As described above, according to the device (information processing apparatus) according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the lid open / close sensor 5 for detecting the opening / closing of the lid of the device, and the fact that the device is lifted Sensor 6, a power supply control unit 14 for turning on the power of the device when the device is placed on a desk or the like, and a cover closed by the cover open / close sensor 5. When the lifting sensor 6 detects that the device has been lifted, it shifts to a hibernation state that consumes less power than in the sleep state, and the device is placed on a desk or the like with the lifting sensor 6. When it is detected that the operation has been performed, the system shifts from the hibernation state to the sleep state, and then executes control to return to the normal state at a higher speed when the lid is next opened. Because having a U1, it exhibits the action and effect as described below.

In the above configuration, when the lid of the device is closed, the state of the lid opening / closing sensor 5 changes, the state shifts to the sleep state, and the power of some devices with large power consumption is turned off.
Next, when the equipment is lifted, the state of the lifting sensor 6 changes, the state shifts to the hibernation state, the registers of all the devices mounted on the equipment are saved on the RAM 2, and all the contents of the RAM 2 are transferred to the disk device 10. Write. Once all the states have been saved, the power control unit 14
Turns off the power.

When the device is placed on the floor, the state of the lifting sensor 6 changes, and the power supply control device 14 turns on the power of the device. Further, all the stored data is read out from the disk device 10 onto the RAM 2 and restored, and the states of all the devices are restored. If the lid is open, it returns to normal use. If the lid is closed, it goes to sleep and waits for the user to start using it. Next, when the lid is opened, the state of the lid opening / closing sensor 5 changes and returns to the normal operation state.

Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, (1) power saving is performed according to the use state of the equipment without making the user conscious at all by merely closing the lid and lifting the equipment. The transition to the state (transition from the sleep state to the hibernation state) has the effect of reducing power consumption. (2) By automatically shifting from the hibernation state to the sleep state when the device is placed and waiting, the next time the user attempts to open the lid and use the system, it is possible to recover from the normal hibernation state. There is an effect that the normal state can be restored in a much shorter time.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the example of a structure of the apparatus (information processing apparatus) which concerns on embodiment. A device (information processing device) according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a CPU1, a RAM2, and a ROM.
3, interrupt control device 4, lid open / close sensor 5, lift sensor 6, sensor control device 7, keyboard 8, keyboard control device (KBC) 9, disk device 10, disk control device (HDC) 11, liquid crystal display device 12, liquid crystal Control device 13, power control device 14, battery 15, power switch 1
6, a timer 17, and a system bus 20. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The second embodiment of the present invention is different from the above-described first embodiment in that, in addition to the device shown in FIG. That is, a timer 17 is added.

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above
The operation of the device (information processing device) according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8 and FIGS.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts of a power saving control program in a device (information processing apparatus) according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are almost the same as FIGS. 5 and 6, but in step S711, the timer 17 is set at the end of the sleep processing. After that, step S71
At 2, the clock of the CPU 1 is stopped. If the device is left standing for a certain period of time, the timer 17
Times out, and generates an interrupt request to the interrupt control device 4. Then, the interrupt control device 4 generates an interrupt signal. With this signal, the CPU 1 returns to the normal state, and executes the interrupt processing from step S714.
Here, the process of shifting to the hibernation state is performed. However, since the state of the previously saved memory is stored in the disk device 10 as it is, the storage of the device state and the transfer of all memories to the disk device 10 are performed. There is no need to perform storage processing.

Accordingly, first, in step S715,
The flag of the disk device 10 rewritten in step S74 is rewritten so as to indicate that it is in the hibernation state. Next, in step S716, all necessary processing is completed only by instructing the power supply control device 14 to turn off the power supply. Therefore, the transition to the hibernation state is performed at a very high speed, and the power consumption is small.

As described above, according to the device (information processing device) according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the lid open / close sensor 5 for detecting the opening / closing of the lid of the device, and the fact that the device is lifted , A timer 17 for detecting that the sleep state has continued for a certain time, and a hibernation state for reducing power consumption when the timer 17 detects that a certain time has elapsed while waiting in the sleep state. The following operations and effects can be obtained since the CPU 1 has the CPU 1 that executes the control for shifting to.

In the above configuration, if the apparatus is left standing for a certain period of time, the timer 17 times out, and the apparatus shifts to the hibernation state. In this case, since the state of the previously saved memory is saved in the disk device 10 as it is, there is no need to save the device state or save the entire memory to the disk device 10. Further, the flag of the rewritten disk device 10 is rewritten so as to indicate that it is in the hibernation state. Thereafter, the power supply control device 14 turns off the power.

Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention, (1) only the operation of closing the lid and lifting the device, without making the user conscious at all, saves power according to the use state of the device. The transition to the state (transition from the sleep state to the hibernation state) has the effect of reducing power consumption. (2) By automatically shifting from the hibernation state to the sleep state when the device is placed and waiting, the next time the user attempts to open the lid and use the system, it is possible to recover from the normal hibernation state. There is an effect that the normal state can be restored in a much shorter time. (3) When the device is left idle for a long time while waiting in the sleep state as in (2) above, the device automatically transitions to the hibernation state again, which has the effect of reducing power consumption. (4) When shifting the device to the hibernation state in the above (3), the process of writing to the disk of all the memory required for normal hibernation processing can be skipped, so that the power consumption is minimized at high speed. There is an effect that the state can be shifted to the hibernation state.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a device (information processing apparatus) according to a third embodiment of the present invention. An apparatus (information processing apparatus) according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a CPU1, a RAM2, and an RO.
M3, interrupt control device 4, lid open / close sensor 5, lift sensor 6, sensor control device 7, keyboard 8, keyboard control device (KBC) 9, disk device 10, disk control device (HDC) 11, liquid crystal display device 12, liquid crystal A control device 13, a power control device 14, a battery 15, a power switch 16, a gravity sensor 18, and a system bus 20 are provided. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The third embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in that a gravity sensor 18 for detecting the orientation of the device with respect to the ground is provided in addition to the device shown in FIG. It is an added point.

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above will be described.
The operation of the device (information processing apparatus) according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 of the first embodiment of the present invention described above.
In FIG. 6, since only the output of the lifting sensor 6 is monitored, the power is turned on only by placing the device. However, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the power supply control device 14 changes the state of the gravity sensor 18. We are monitoring at the same time. Power control device 14
Turns on the power of the device only when the device is lifted and placed on the bottom where the sensor 6 is disposed. Therefore, when the device is placed vertically in the bag or turned over, it is possible to prevent the power from being accidentally turned on and waiting in the sleep state.

As described above, according to the device (information processing apparatus) according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the lid opening / closing sensor 5 for detecting the opening / closing of the lid of the device and the device being lifted Sensor 6, a gravity sensor 18 for detecting the orientation of the device with respect to the ground, and a gravity sensor 1
8 has a power control device 14 that turns on the device only when it is detected that the device is placed with its bottom down, and the CPU 1 that executes power saving control. To play.

In the above configuration, the power supply control device 14
At the same time as monitoring the state of the lifting sensor 6, the state of the gravity sensor 18 is monitored. The power supply control device 14 controls the device to lift the sensor 6 based on the detection of the gravity sensor 18.
Turn on the device only when it is placed with its bottom part down.

Therefore, in the third embodiment of the present invention, in addition to obtaining the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments, for example, the device may be placed vertically in a bag. There is an effect that it is possible to prevent the power from being turned on by mistake and standing by in the sleep state when the camera is put down.

[Other Embodiments] The first embodiment of the present invention described above.
-In the third embodiment, a device (information processing device)
However, the present invention is not limited to notebook computers, but can be applied to other portable devices requiring power saving. .

Further, in the above-described first to third embodiments of the present invention, the case where the lid opening / closing sensor 5 and the lifting sensor 6 of the device are arranged at the location shown in FIG. 2 will be described as an example. However, the lid opening / closing sensor 5 and the lifting sensor 6
Is not limited to the illustrated location, and may be any location as long as the opening / closing and lifting of the device can be detected.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus executes the program code stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by executing the reading.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0078]

As described above, according to the electronic device according to the first and second aspects, the power saving control method according to the ninth and tenth aspects, and the storage medium according to the seventeenth and the eighteenth aspects, the lid of the electronic apparatus is provided. When the power supply is closed, the first power saving state (sleep state)
When the electronic device is lifted, the electronic device is controlled to shift to the second power saving state (hibernation state) that consumes less power than the first power saving state. By shifting the power-saving state (transition from sleep mode to hibernation mode) according to the usage state of the electronic device without raising the user's awareness at all, just by lifting the electronic device,
There is an effect that power consumption can be reduced.

The electronic device according to the third aspect, the first aspect.
According to the power saving control method of the first aspect and the storage medium of the nineteenth aspect, when the electronic device is placed on a desk or the like, the second power saving state (the hibernation state) is changed to the first power saving state (the sleep state). State) and then control to return to the normal state faster when the lid is next opened, so when the electronic device is placed, it automatically shifts from the hibernation state to the sleep state. By waiting, the user can return to the normal state in a much shorter time than when returning from the normal hibernation state the next time the user tries to open the lid and use it.

The electronic device according to the fourth aspect, the first aspect.
According to the power saving control method described in Item 2 and the storage medium described in Item 20, the electronic device is in a first power saving state (sleep state).
If a certain period of time has elapsed while the electronic device is standing by, the electronic device is left in the sleep state for a long time because it is controlled to shift to the second power saving state (hibernation state) again to reduce power consumption. In such a case, the state automatically transitions to the hibernation state again, which has the effect of reducing power consumption.

The electronic device according to claim 6 and the electronic device according to claim 1
According to the power saving control method of the fourth aspect and the storage medium of the twenty-second aspect, when the electronic device is shifted to the second power saving state (the hibernation state), the information of the hibernation immediately before on the disk device is used. Control is performed so that the state transition is performed at high speed, so that when the electronic device shifts to the hibernation state, it is possible to skip the process of writing all the memory to the disk required for normal hibernation processing. Therefore, there is an effect that the mode can be shifted to the hibernation state at a high speed while keeping the power consumption to a minimum.

Further, the electronic device according to claim 7 and the electronic device according to claim 1
According to the power saving control method of the fifth aspect and the storage medium of the twenty-third aspect, the electronic device is controlled so as to be turned on only when the electronic device is placed with the bottom part down. However, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent the power from being accidentally turned on and waiting in the sleep state when the camera is placed vertically or turned over in a bag.

Further, the electronic device according to claims 5 and 8, the power saving control method according to claims 13 and 16, and the claims 21 and 24
According to the storage medium described above, the first power saving state is a sleep state in which the backlight of the display is stopped, the motor of the disk device is stopped, the CPU is stopped, and the like. In the hibernation state in which the memory is written to the disk device and all the devices are powered off, and the invention is applicable to an information processing device such as a notebook personal computer, the same effects as those of the effects described above can be obtained in an information processing device such as a notebook personal computer. effective.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a device (information processing device) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing an arrangement example of a lid opening / closing sensor and a lifting sensor in a notebook personal computer as a specific example of the device (information processing device) according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention. is there.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a program for performing power saving control according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is a flowchart showing processing when a lid is closed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a program for performing power saving control according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is a flowchart showing processing when the device is lifted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a program for performing power saving control according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is a flowchart showing processing when the device is placed on a desk.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a program for performing power saving control according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is a flowchart showing processing when the device is placed on a desk and when the lid is opened.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram in which a state of power saving control according to the first embodiment of the present invention is compared with a user operation.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a device (information processing device) according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a program for performing power saving control according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a flowchart showing processing when the device is placed on a desk or the like and when the lid is opened.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a program for performing power saving control according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a flowchart showing processing when the device is placed on a desk or the like and when the lid is opened.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a device (information processing device) according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of storage contents of a storage medium storing a program and related data of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a conceptual example in which a program and related data of the present invention are supplied from a storage medium to an apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 5 Cover opening / closing sensor 6 Lifting sensor 10 Disk device 12 Liquid crystal display device 14 Power supply control device 17 Timer 18 Gravity sensor

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device having a plurality of power-saving states, comprising: a state detecting means mounted on the electronic device main body and detecting a state of an auxiliary portion necessary for operating the electronic device; Lifting detection means for detecting that the incidental portion is in a non-operation state by the state detection means, and shifts to a first power saving state, and the lifting detection means detects the electronic device main body. An electronic device comprising: a power saving control unit configured to shift to a second power saving state that consumes less power than the first power saving state when detecting that the power is lifted. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary portion is a cover that is openably and closably mounted on the electronic device main body and is necessary for operating the electronic device.
The state detecting means detects opening and closing of the lid, which is the auxiliary part, and the power saving control means sets the first power saving state when the state detecting means detects that the lid is closed. When the lifting detection means detects that the electronic device main body is lifted, the electronic device main body is shifted to the second power saving state which consumes less power than the first power saving state. The electronic device according to claim 1. 3. A power supply control means for turning on the power of the electronic device main body when it is determined that the electronic device main body is mounted on a desk or the like based on a change in the state of the lift detecting means, The power control means shifts from the second power saving state to the first power saving state when the electronic device main body is placed on a desk or the like, and at a higher speed when the lid is next opened. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is returned to a normal state. 4. The power-saving control unit further includes a timer that counts whether the first power-saving state has continued for a predetermined time or more, and the power-saving control unit waits in the first power-saving state with the clock unit. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the predetermined time has elapsed while the power is kept, the electronic device shifts to the second power saving state again to reduce power consumption. 5. 5. The first power saving state includes: stopping a backlight of a display mounted on the lid / stopping a motor of a disk device mounted on the electronic device main body / a CPU mounted on the electronic device main body. And the second power saving state is a hibernation state in which all memories provided in the electronic device main body are written to the disk device and all devices are powered off. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The power-saving control means simplifies processing by using information of a hibernation immediately before on the disk device when shifting to the second power-saving state again, and performs a state transition at high speed. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the electronic device is operated. 7. The electronic device main body further includes a direction detecting unit for detecting a direction of the electronic device main body with respect to the ground, and the power control unit includes the electronic device main body placed with the bottom part down by the direction detecting unit. 7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a power supply of the electronic device main body is turned on only when it is detected. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer.
An electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. A power-saving control method applied to an electronic device having a plurality of power-saving states, comprising: a state detecting step for detecting a state of an auxiliary part provided in the electronic device main body and necessary for operating the electronic device. A lifting detection step of detecting that the electronic device body has been lifted, and, if the state detection step detects that the incidental portion has been brought into a non-operation state, the state is shifted to a first power saving state, A power-saving control step of, when detecting that the electronic device main body has been lifted in the lifting detection step, shifting to a second power-saving state having less power consumption than the first power-saving state. Power saving control method. 10. The ancillary part is a lid that is openably and closably mounted on the electronic device main body and is necessary for operating the electronic device. In the state detection step, opening and closing of the lid that is the ancillary part is detected. In the power saving control step, when it is detected that the lid is closed in the state detection step, the state is shifted to the first power saving state, and the electronic device body is lifted in the lifting detection step. The power saving control method according to claim 9, wherein, when the power saving state is detected, a transition is made to the second power saving state which consumes less power than the first power saving state. 11. A power control step of turning on the power of the electronic device main body when it is determined that the electronic device main body is placed on a desk or the like based on a change in the state of the lifting detection step, and In the power control step,
When the electronic device main body is placed on a desk or the like, the state is shifted from the second power saving state to the first power saving state, and then returned to the normal state faster when the lid is opened. 11. The power saving control method according to claim 9, wherein: 12. The power-saving control step further includes a time-counting step for counting that the first power-saving state has continued for a predetermined period of time or more, wherein the power-saving control step waits in the first power-saving state in the clocking step. The power saving control method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein when it is timed that a predetermined time has elapsed while the power is kept, the state is again shifted to the second power saving state in order to reduce power consumption. 13. The first power saving state means that a backlight of a display mounted on the lid is stopped, a motor of a disk device mounted on the electronic device main body is stopped, and a CPU mounted on the electronic device main body. And the second power saving state is a hibernation state in which all memories provided in the electronic device main body are written to the disk device and all devices are powered off. The power saving control method according to any one of claims 9 to 12. 14. In the power saving control step, when shifting to the second power saving state again, the process is simplified using hibernation information immediately before on the disk device, and the state transition is performed at high speed. 14. The power saving control method according to claim 12, wherein the power saving control method is performed. 15. The electronic device main body further includes a direction detecting step of detecting a direction of the electronic device main body with respect to the ground, wherein in the power control step, the electronic device main body is placed with the bottom part down in the direction detecting step. The power saving control method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the power of the electronic device main body is turned on only when it is detected. 16. The power saving control method according to claim 9, wherein the method is applicable to an information processing device such as a notebook personal computer. 17. A storage medium readable by a computer storing a program for executing a power saving control method applied to an electronic device having a plurality of power saving states, wherein the power saving control method comprises: A state detection step of detecting a state of an additional part necessary for operating the electronic device, a lifting detection step of detecting that the electronic device body has been lifted, and the auxiliary part not being operated in the state detection step. If it is detected that the electronic device main body has been lifted in the lifting detection step, the electronic device main body is shifted to the first power saving state. A power saving control step of shifting to a small second power saving state. 18. The supplementary part is a cover which is provided on the electronic device main body so as to be openable and closable and is necessary for operation of the electronic device. In the state detecting step, opening and closing of the cover which is the supplementary part is detected. In the power saving control step, when it is detected that the lid is closed in the state detection step, the state is shifted to the first power saving state, and the electronic device body is lifted in the lifting detection step. 18. The storage medium according to claim 17, wherein when detected, a transition is made to the second power saving state which consumes less power than the first power saving state. 19. The power-saving control method further comprises: a power control for turning on the power of the electronic device main body when it is determined that the electronic device main body is placed on a desk or the like based on a change in the state of the lifting detection step. In the power saving control step, when the electronic device main body is placed on a desk or the like, the electronic device main body is shifted from the second power saving state to the first power saving state, and then the lid is 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus is returned to the normal state more quickly when opened.
Or the storage medium according to 18. 20. The power saving control method further includes a timing step of timing that the first power saving state has continued for a predetermined time or more, wherein the power saving control step includes the step of: 20. The method according to claim 17, wherein when a predetermined time has elapsed while waiting in one power saving state, the state is shifted to the second power saving state again to reduce power consumption. Storage media. 21. The first power saving state means that a backlight of a display mounted on the lid is stopped, a motor of a disk device mounted on the electronic device body is stopped, and a CPU mounted on the electronic device main body. And the second power saving state is a hibernation state in which all memories provided in the electronic device main body are written to the disk device and all devices are powered off. 21. The storage medium according to claim 17, wherein: 22. In the power saving control step, when shifting back to the second power saving state, the process is simplified using hibernation information immediately before on the disk device, and the state transition is performed at high speed. 22. The storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the storage medium is executed. 23. The power saving control method further includes a direction detecting step of detecting a direction of the electronic device main body with respect to the ground, and in the power control step, the electronic device main body has a bottom portion in the direction detecting step. The storage medium according to any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein the power supply of the electronic device main body is turned on only when it is detected that the electronic device is placed down. 24. The storage medium according to claim 17, which is applicable to an information processing device such as a notebook personal computer.