JP2001242965A - Computer system, information processing device, and power supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the body of information processing system possible not to consume a power due operation, and besides to supply a power source through an external interface to an external connecting device without a necessity of queuing time. SOLUTION: USB host controller 23 is provided with a function which performs the power supply to the external connecting device such as a digital camera 37 connected to USB port 34. In the case switching operation corresponding to a sub power source switch 25b is performed, the power source controller 11 performs the power supply to USB host controller, and also notifies that is enables only the power supply through the external interface 03 to USB host controller 23. USB host controller 23 enables only the function of the power supply corresponding to the notice from the power source controller 21, and performs the power supply to the external connecting device without starting the body of device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system for supplying power to another peripheral device via an external interface of an information processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and a power supply system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, USB (Universal Serial Bu
s), high-speed external interfaces for interconnecting personal computers and their peripheral devices, such as IEEE 1394, have been attracting attention. Accordingly, these connection interfaces have been implemented in many peripheral devices such as mobile phones and printers.

[0003] Another major feature of USB and IEEE 1394 is that a function of supplying power from a master unit (host machine) to a slave unit (slave machine) is provided. Thus, the child device (peripheral device) can operate on the power supplied from the parent device (personal computer), and can further charge the battery provided inside by the power supply from the parent device. In general, a charging function for securing a long operation time is important for a mobile device configured to be carried around due to its nature.

However, in current information processing devices such as personal computers, in order to supply power to peripheral devices through these external interfaces, it is necessary to turn on the power switch of the personal computer main body to bring the host machine into an operating state. there were. As a result, unnecessary power consumption occurs in the personal computer itself due to the activation of the operating system, and the battery of the personal computer is consumed more than necessary. I was

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional information processing apparatus, power can be supplied to peripheral devices via an external interface, but the functions of the information processing apparatus main body are not used. However, the information processing apparatus must be put into an operating state, power is consumed when the operating system is activated, and the user has to wait until the operating system is activated, resulting in poor operability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and does not consume power for operating the information processing apparatus main body and does not require a waiting time for an external connection device. It is an object to provide a computer system, an information processing device, and a power supply system that can supply power via an external interface.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a computer system which operates using an operating system, wherein an external interface for connecting an external device and supplying power to the external device is provided, and the operating system is operable. And a supply unit for supplying power from the external interface to an external device in a state where the external device is not present.

[0008] Further, a switch for operating the supply means is provided.

A detecting means for detecting that an external device is connected to the external interface in a state where the operating system is not operable; and operating the operating system in response to the detection by the detecting means. And a supply means for supplying power from the external interface to an external device.

[0010] Further, a supply means for supplying power from an external interface to an external device, and a control means for supplying power from the supply means even when the operating system shifts from an operation state to an operation stop state. It is characterized by having.

Inquiry means for inquiring of an external device via the external interface whether or not power supply is required in a state in which the operating system is not operable, and responding to the inquiry about whether or not power supply is required from the external device. And a power supply unit for supplying power from the external interface to an external device when receiving the power.

According to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus having an external interface to which an external connection device can be connected, a power supply for supplying power to the external connection device connected to the external interface without operating the device itself. By providing the means, the power supply to the external connection device is realized while avoiding the power consumption accompanying the operation of the own apparatus main body.

[0013] In addition to the first switching means for switching to a state in which the apparatus itself operates, a second switching for switching to a state in which power is supplied to an external connection device connected by the external interface. Means for supplying power to the external connection device when switching is performed by the second switching means.

Further, the second switching means is switched by a mechanical switch.

The second switching means has connection detecting means for detecting whether or not the external connection device is connected to the external interface and performing switching, and the second detecting means switches the external interface by the connection detecting means. Switching is performed when it is detected that the connection device is connected.

Further, the second switching means performs switching by a protocol process that does not involve the operation of the main unit itself with an external connection device connected by the external interface.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus which operates by receiving power supply from another information processing apparatus connected via an external interface, wherein protocol processing between the information processing apparatus and another information processing apparatus connected via the external interface is performed. A receiving means for requesting power supply and receiving power supply via an external interface is provided.

According to the present invention, in a power supply system for supplying power to an external connection device, an external interface having a function of connecting the external connection device and supplying power is provided, and an external interface connected to the external interface. Power supply control means for supplying power to the external connection device through the external interface.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to the present embodiment. The information processing system shown in FIG.
The external connection device 02 functions as one peripheral device. The external connection device 02 is connected via a cable by an external interface 03 provided in the information processing device 01. The external interface 03 is an interface that can supply power to peripheral devices such as USB and IEEE1394. In the present embodiment, a description will be given assuming that USB is used.

The information processing apparatus 01 is, for example, a CD-RO
It is realized by a personal computer or the like, which reads a program recorded on a recording medium such as an M, DVD, or magnetic disk, and controls the operation of the program. The external connection device 02 is intended for various devices such as a digital camera, a mobile phone, a printer device, a music playback device, and other information devices. In the present embodiment, a description will be given assuming that a digital camera is used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the information processing apparatus 01. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 01 includes a CPU 11, a host-PCI bridge 12 connecting the CPU bus 1 and the PCI bus 2, a main memory 13, a VGA controller 14, a PCI-ISA bridge (PCI / ISA). BUS-Bridge) 15, bus master IDE controller 16, BIOS-ROM1
8, a real-time clock (RTC) 19, an embedded controller (EC) 20, a power controller 21, a keyboard controller (KBC) 22, a USB host controller 23, a sound controller 24, a main power switch 25a, a sub power switch 25b, and the like. I have.

The CPU 11 controls the operation of the entire system and executes data processing according to various control programs stored in the BIOS-ROM 18 and various programs loaded from the hard disk device (HDD) 17 into the main memory 13. The host-PCI bridge 12 has a built-in circuit for controlling the memory and the entire I / O in the system.

The main memory 13 is used as a main memory of the system, that is, a system memory, and stores an operating system (OS), an application program to be processed, user data created by the application program, and the like. Along with
The setting information file by the remote control operation is stored. The main memory 13 is realized by a semiconductor memory such as a DRAM.

The VGA controller 14 is for controlling the LCD 32 used as a display monitor of the system, and displays the screen data drawn on the VRAM 31 on the LCD 32 in the LCD panel unit.

The PCI-ISA bridge 15 is a bus bridge connecting between the PCI bus 2 and the ISA bus 3. The bus master IDE controller 16 is an IDE device (here, an HDD) mounted on the computer main body.
17), and corresponds to a bus master function capable of executing a DMA transfer between the IDE device and the main memory 13.

The BIOS-ROM 18 stores the system BIOS
S is stored therein, and is constituted by a flash memory so that a program can be rewritten. The system BIOS systematizes function execution routines for accessing various hardware in the system, and is configured to operate in a real mode. The system BIOS includes an IRT routine executed when the system is powered on, a group of BIOS drivers for various hardware controls, and the like. Each BIOS driver includes a plurality of function execution routine groups corresponding to the functions for providing a plurality of functions for hardware control to an operating system or an application program.

The RTC 19 is a clock module and has a CMOS memory backed up by a unique battery. Various system configuration information including information designating a power-up mode is set in the CMOS memory. The EC 20 is a controller for controlling additional functions of the system, and has a power supply sequence control function for controlling on / off of the system power supply in cooperation with the power supply controller 21 and a power supply status notification function. Communication between the power supply controllers 21 is performed via an I2C bus.

The power supply controller 21 is connected to the EC 20 via an I2C bus, and includes a battery 26 and an external power supply 2.
7, and supplies power to each unit constituting the information processing apparatus 01 and the external connection device 03 connected via the USB host controller 23. The power supply controller 21 includes a mechanical main power switch 25a operated to activate the information processing apparatus 01, and an external interface 0 without activating the information processing apparatus 01.
3 (USB port 34), and executes control corresponding to a mechanical sub power switch 25b operated to supply power to the external connection device 02.

The keyboard controller 22 controls key input of a keyboard (KB) 33. The USB host controller 23 connects an externally connected device 02 through a USB port 34 and a remote control port 35, and forms an external interface that controls connection to the connected externally connected device 02. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 37 is connected to the USB port 3 as the external connection device 02.
4 shows a state where the connection is established. In addition, the USB host controller 23 according to the present embodiment controls an external device connected via the USB port 34 in a state where the main body of the information processing apparatus 01 is not activated by the control from the power supply controller 21 in accordance with an operation on the sub power switch 25b. Power can be supplied to the connection device 02 (digital camera 37).

The sound controller 24 is connected to the ISA bus 3 and performs sound control on sound output to, for example, speakers, headphones, and sound input from a microphone.

Next, the system configuration of the external connection device 02 will be described. FIG. 3 shows the external connection device 02
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration around a power supply unit (for example, a digital camera 37). As shown in FIG.
50, a power controller 52, a USB device controller 53, a charging device 54, and a USB port 55 are provided. The CPU 50 controls the operation of the entire apparatus and executes data processing according to various programs stored in a storage device (not shown). The power supply controller 52 controls the charging device 54 in order to supply electric power to each component of the device.
Power can be received from the information processing apparatus 01, which is the host machine, via the.

The USB device controller 53 controls connection to a device connected to a USB port 55 as an external interface. Further, the USB host controller 53 according to the present embodiment receives power supplied from a host machine (the information processing apparatus 01) connected via the USB port 55 (receiving means) and provides the power to the power controller 52. The charging device 54 includes the power controller 5
Under the control of 2, the power supplied from the host machine via the USB device controller 53 is charged, and the charged power for operating the external connection device 02 is supplied. The USB port 55 is an interface for connecting to a host machine (the information processing device 01) via a USB cable.

Next, the operation of the information processing system according to the present embodiment will be described. When operating the information processing apparatus 01 normally, an operation of turning on the main power switch 25a is performed. When the main power switch 25a is turned on, the power controller 21 starts power supply to each unit constituting the information processing device 01, and
11 is notified of system startup. In this case, CP
U11 activates the operating system (OS) 17a stored in the HDD 17, and puts the information processing apparatus 01 into an operating state.

Therefore, the external connection device 02 operates with the power supplied from the information processing device 01 and can use the functions of the information processing device 01.

On the other hand, when only power is supplied to the external connection device 02 without activating the information processing device 01, an operation of turning on the sub power switch 25b is performed. When the sub power switch 25b is turned on, the power controller 21 supplies power to the USB host controller 23 and notifies the USB host controller 23 of enabling only the power supply via the external interface 03. Do.

In response to the notification from the power supply controller 21, the USB host controller 23 does not enable all the functions but only enables the power supply function. Therefore, power can be supplied from the battery 26 of the information processing apparatus 01 or the external power supply 27 to the digital camera 37 connected to the USB port 34 via the USB cable via the USB host controller 23. .

The digital camera 37 includes an information processing device 0
By connecting to the first external interface 03 (USB port 34), power can be supplied from the information processing apparatus 01. At this time, the operating system 17
Since the activation of “a” is not involved, there is no need to wait for the completion of activation. The digital camera 37 can be operated by the supplied electric power, or can be stored as electric power when the charging device 54 is charged and used alone.

Thus, the sub power switch 25b
The external connection device 02 (digital camera 37) connected to the external interface 03 (USB port 34) without activating the information processing device 01 by the operation to
Power can be supplied to the information processing apparatus 01, so that it is possible to avoid power consumption due to operations that are not originally required in the information processing apparatus 01 (eg, activation of the operating system 17a). In particular, when the information processing apparatus 01 operates by the electric power stored in the battery 26,
By reducing power consumption, the operable time of the information processing apparatus 01 itself can be extended. In addition, since there is no need to wait for the operating system of the information processing apparatus 01 to start, the power supply is started immediately by simply connecting the external connection device 02 to the external interface 03 and turning on the sub power switch 25b. Performance can be improved.

Next, a modified example of the configuration in the above-described embodiment will be described. In the above description, if there is a switching operation on the sub power switch 25b,
Although the power supply to the digital camera 37 by the SB controller 23 is enabled, it is detected whether or not power supply is necessary electrically without using a mechanical switch, and switching is performed in accordance with the detection result. The configuration for controlling the power supply by performing the above will be described.

FIG. 4 shows the USB host controller 23.
Is shown. As shown in FIG. 4, the USB host controller 23 is provided with a connection detector 23a for detecting whether or not the external connection device 02 (digital camera 37) is connected via the USB port 34.

In the USB, the following four signal lines are defined. That is, “Vbus = + 5V power supply” “GND
= Ground "," D + = data signal (+ component) "," D- =
Data signal (-component) ".

In the USB connection monitoring protocol, both "D +" and "D-" are at low level when the external connection device 02 is not connected, and the "D +" or "D-" signal is high at the device side at the time of connection. As a result, the connection can be detected in the information processing device 01 on the host side.

Using this USB mechanism, the host-side information processing apparatus 01 electrically switches the sub power switch according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. Power is supplied to the connection device 02.

The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The USB host controller 23 in the information processing device 01 enables only the connection detection unit 23a. That is, the connection detection unit 23a is in a state of waiting for connection detection of the external connection device 02 via the USB port 34 (step A1). Here, the external connection device 02
Is connected via a USB cable, the connection detection unit 23
a detects that the external connection device 02 has been connected to the USB port 34 when either the “D +” or “D−” signal goes high (step A2).
The connection detector 23a requests the power controller 21 to turn on the sub power switch (step A3). As a result, the sub power switch is turned on in the power controller 21, and only the power supply of the USB host controller 23 is enabled to enable the USB host controller 23.
Power is supplied to the external connection device 02 via the terminal (step A4). That is, just by connecting the external connection device 02 to the USB port 34, the information processing device
Can be supplied to the external connection device 02 connected via the USB host controller 23.

The external connection device 02 is connected to the USB port 3
4, the connection detection unit 23a detects disconnection because both "D +" and "D-" are at low level, and notifies the power supply controller 21 of the disconnection state. (Step A5). The power controller 21 turns off the sub power switch and stops the power supply via the USB host controller 23.

As described above, by controlling the power supply to the external connection device 02 without using a mechanical switch, the user can connect the external connection device 02 to the external interface 03 (USB) of the information processing device 01 via a USB cable.
Power can be supplied to the external connection device 02 simply by connecting to the port 34), so that operability can be further improved.

Next, another modified example of the configuration in the above-described embodiment will be described. In this case, as described above, the power switch is not changed by a mechanical method, and is executed after the USB cable (external connection device 02) is connected.
A power supply control function is provided in a higher-level protocol on B, and switching is realized by this protocol processing.

In this case, various realization methods are conceivable in order to realize the processing by software processing higher in USB, but one realization method is shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. For example, by communicating a simple message as shown in FIG. 6 in the upper layer of the upper protocol on the USB, the power control of the external connection device 02 can be easily performed. The example of the message shown in FIG.
USB host controller 23 to external connection device 02
And sends a response message (“YES” or “NO”) to the information processing device 01 from the external connection device 02 side. is there.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a case where a message is realized with a one-byte length. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the upper 4 bits indicate an operation code, and the lower 4 bits indicate a data bit. Here, the upper four bits “0010” represent a message for inquiring whether the information processing device 01 requests the external connection device 02 to supply power. “0011” indicates that the message is a response message to the inquiry about whether to request the power supply from the external connection device 02. In the lower 4 data bits of the reply message, "000"
“0” indicates a response message of “NO” not requesting power supply, and “0001” indicates a response message of “YES” requesting power supply.

In this way, by transmitting and receiving messages in the upper layer protocol on the USB,
Power supply control for supplying power to the external connection device 02 from the information processing device 01 can be performed without activating the information processing device 01 itself.

The switching from the normal operation to the power saving operation may be performed by a switch from software, so that the switching may be performed in conjunction with the power management control of the OS 17a. Specifically,
The OS 17a of the information processing apparatus 01 receives information from the information processing apparatus 0 by interaction from a user or automatic management of the OS itself.
Since one OS 17a shifts from the normal operation to the suspend mode or the hibernation in which the power is saved, the power supply state to the external connection device 02 is linked to this operation. In this case, from the viewpoint of power supply to the external connection device 02, the user can consider the following two states. In the normal state, the information processing device 01 supplies power to the external connection device 02.

(1) The power supply to the external connection device 02 is also stopped at the time of transition to the suspend mode. (2) The system is brought into the suspend state, but the power supply to the external connection device 02 can be performed. By having such a switching mechanism, the user can set this at a finer level from the viewpoint of power supply to the external connection device 02. To realize this, a register for enabling / disabling power supply to the external connection device 02 is assigned to one of the registers of the power supply controller 21 (power supply microcomputer), and the OS 17a accesses this register at the time of suspend to access the register. , Either (1) or (2) described above is set.

In the above description, the external connection device 0
Although USB is used as an example of the external interface 03 for connecting the PC 1 to the information processing apparatus 01, the IEEE 1
As long as the interface such as 394 can supply power to the connected device, it can be similarly applied to other interfaces.

Further, the method described in the above-described embodiment includes, as programs that can be executed by a computer, for example, a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM,
DVD and the like, and can be written to a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory and provided to various devices. Further, it is also possible to transmit the data via a communication medium and provide it to various devices. A computer that implements the present apparatus reads the program recorded on a recording medium or receives the program via a communication medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the program.

[0055]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, power from the information processing device is supplied to the external connection device without activating the information processing device main body. The power can be minimized, and the operability can be improved because there is no need to wait for the activation of the information processing apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the information processing apparatus 01.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration around a power supply unit of the external connection device 02.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a USB host controller 23.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure for supplying power to the external connection device 02 without activating the information processing device 01 main body.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing transmission and reception of messages between the USB host controller 23 of the information processing apparatus 01 and the USB device controller 53 of the external connection device 02.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where a message is realized with a one-byte length.

[Explanation of symbols]

 01 Information processing device 02 External connection device 03 External interface 11, 50 CPU 12 PCI bridge 13 Main memory 14 VGA controller 15 ISA bridge 16 IDE controller 17 Hard disk drive (HDD) 18 ROM 19 ... Real-time clock (RTC) 20 ... Embedded controller (EC) 21,52 ... Power supply controller 23 ... USB host controller 23a ... Connection detection unit 24 ... Sound controller 25a ... Main power switch 25b ... Sub power switch 34,55 ... USB port 35 … Remote control port 53… USB device controller

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A computer system which operates using an operating system, comprising: an external interface for connecting an external device and supplying power to the external device; and an external interface for not operating the operating system. A supply system for supplying power to an external device. 2. A computer system operating using an operating system, comprising: an external interface for connecting an external device and supplying power to the external device; and an external interface connected to the external interface when the operating system is not operable. A computer system comprising: a supply unit for supplying power to an external device; and a switch for operating the supply unit. 3. A computer system that operates using an operating system, comprising: an external interface for connecting an external device and supplying power to the external device; and an external interface connected to the external interface when the operating system is not operable. Detecting means for detecting that an external device is connected; and supplying means for supplying power to the external device from the external interface without operating the operating system in response to the detection by the detecting means. A computer system, comprising: 4. A computer system that operates using an operating system, comprising: an external interface for connecting an external device and supplying power to the external device; and supply means for supplying power to the external device from the external interface. And a control means for supplying power from the supply means even when the operating system shifts from an operating state to an operation stopped state. 5. A computer system that operates using an operating system, comprising: an external interface that connects an external device and supplies power to the external device; and an external interface that is not operable with the operating system. Inquiring means for inquiring whether or not power supply is necessary to an external device via a supply means for supplying power to the external device from the external interface when power is received from the external device in response to the necessity inquiry. A computer system comprising: 6. An information processing apparatus having an external interface to which an external connection device can be connected, comprising: a supply unit for supplying power to the external connection device connected to the external interface without operating the device itself. An information processing apparatus characterized in that: 7. A second switch for switching to a state in which power is supplied to an external connection device connected by the external interface, in addition to the first switching unit for switching to a state in which the own apparatus main body is operated. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: means for supplying power to the external connection device when the switching is performed by the second switching means. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second switching means is switched by a mechanical switch. 9. The second switching unit includes a connection detection unit that detects whether or not the external connection device is connected to the external interface and performs switching.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the switching is performed when the connection detection unit detects that the external connection device is connected. 10. The switching device according to claim 7, wherein the second switching unit performs switching between the external connection device connected to the external interface by a protocol process that does not involve the operation of the device itself. Information processing device. 11. An information processing apparatus that operates by receiving power supply from another information processing apparatus connected by an external interface, wherein power is supplied by protocol processing with another information processing apparatus connected by the external interface. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a receiving unit that makes a request and receives power supply via an external interface. 12. A power supply system for supplying power to an external connection device, an external interface having a function of connecting the external connection device and supplying power, and an external connection connected to the external interface. A power supply system, comprising: power supply control means for supplying power to the device through the external interface.