JP2001265707A - Information processing terminal and automatic connection recognizing method for external device for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically judge whether an external SCSI device is connected or not and to activate a system corresponding to the judgement. SOLUTION: An SCSI connector 4 is provided with an openable/closable SCSI connector cover 5 and a cover switch 6 to be turned on/off by opening/ closing this SCSI connector cover 5. When a power source is turned on and it is decided from the output of the cover switch 6 the SCSI connector cover 5 is opened, a CPU 1 activates the system after setting the boot of the SCSI device valid to a BBM 2 and when it is decided the SCSI connector cover 5 is closed, the system is activated after setting the boot of the SCSI device invalid to the BBM 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recognition technique for connecting an external device to an information processing terminal such as a personal computer (PC).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an information processing terminal such as a PC, a plurality of types of interfaces are mounted so that devices other than a built-in device can be connected, and an external device can be connected using a cable as necessary. Has become. For example, an operation of connecting a SCSI device such as an external MO drive and backing up data is performed.

On the other hand, in the information processing terminal, when the power is turned on, the connected device is recognized, and the boot of each device is executed to start up the system. The setting of whether or not to execute can be performed by BIOS setup.
With this, when the external SCSI device is not connected, the boot for the external SCSI device is set to be invalid in the BIOS setup, so that the power supply is turned off.
It is possible to shorten the start-up time from N.

In order to connect an external SCSI device to perform processing such as data backup in such an apparatus, not only the external SCSI device is connected with a cable, but also the BIOS is set up by executing a BIOS setup. Need to be changed. In a normal PC, after turning on the power, a predetermined key on the keyboard is pressed to turn on the BIOS.
After launching the setup and manually enabling the boot of the external SCSI device, and ending the BIOS setup, the device will boot the system based on this changed configuration and the connected The boot is executed by recognizing the external SCSI device.

To remove an external SCSI device,
After turning off the power, disconnect the cable, turn on the power again, start the BIOS setup by pressing a predetermined key, manually disable the boot of the external SCSI device, and then start the BIOS setup. By ending, the system is started and the power is turned off again.

[0006]

Conventionally, as described above,
Each time an external SCSI device is attached or detached, the BIOS setup must be started and the settings must be changed manually, which has been problematic. In addition, it is possible to set the boot of the external SCSI device to be always valid and deal with it only by connecting / disconnecting the cable. However, in this case, even when the external SCSI device is not connected, the power is turned on when the power is turned on. However, since the device attempts to recognize the device and does not proceed to the next process until the timeout ends, there is a problem that the system startup is delayed.

Further, since the SCSI connector is provided on the back of the device, there is a problem that it is difficult to attach and detach the cable. Therefore, external SCSI
There is a problem of providing an information processing terminal that can easily determine whether a device is connected or not and activate the system in accordance with the determination, so that an external SCSI device can be easily attached and detached.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a connector for connecting an external device is provided with an openable / closable cover, and the cover is opened and closed. An information processing terminal, comprising: a cover switch having a variable output; and control means for switching whether to enable or disable booting of an external device from the output of the cover switch.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing terminal according to the first aspect, a connector is provided on a front surface of the apparatus, and the connector is provided with an openable / closable cover. . According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information processing terminal according to the first or second aspect, the control means comprises a CPU and a memory for storing hardware status, and the CPU is configured to turn on the power.
In that case, switch the setting to enable or disable the external device bud stored in the memory according to the output of the cover switch, then read the memory and start the system according to the setting An information processing terminal characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing terminal according to the first or second aspect, the control means includes:
A CPU, a memory for storing hardware status, and an address conversion circuit for converting an output of the cover switch into a boot setting value of an external device;
Is characterized in that when a power supply is turned on, when a memory is read, a boot set value of an external device receives an output of a cover switch from an address conversion circuit and starts a system according to the setting. Terminal.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a connector for connecting an external device is provided with an openable / closable cover, and when the information processing terminal is powered on, the cover is opened when the power is turned on. Booting the external device to start the system, and, when the cover is closed, skipping the boot of the external device and starting the system to automatically start the external device in the information processing terminal. This is a connection recognition method.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an information processing terminal according to the present invention. 1 is CPU
Thus, the entire information processing terminal such as a personal computer is controlled. Reference numeral 2 denotes a BBM (battery backup memory), which is provided to store the status of hardware of the information processing terminal, such as data set in the BIOS setup.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a SCSI controller which controls a SCSI device. Reference numeral 4 denotes a SCSI connector to which a cable of an external SCSI device is connected, which is provided on the front of the apparatus. 5 is a SCSI connector cover,
The SCSI connector 4 is openably and closably covered.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a cover switch, which is turned ON / OFF by opening and closing the SCSI connector cover 5.
In the following description, when the SCSI connector cover 5 is open, the output of the cover switch 6 is ON,
When the connector cover 5 is closed, the output of the cover switch 6 is turned off. FIG. 2 is a front view of the information processing terminal according to the first embodiment. When an external SCSI device is not connected to the information processing terminal, as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. Close the connector cover 5. As a result, the SCSI connector 4 is not exposed, and the external SC
The cable of the SI device cannot be connected. When the SCSI connector cover 5 is closed, the output is turned off when the button portion of the cover switch 6 is pressed by the SCSI connector cover 5.

On the other hand, when an external SCSI device is connected to the information processing terminal, FIG.
As shown in (b), the SCSI connector cover 5 is opened. As a result, the SCSI connector 4 is exposed, and a cable of an external SCSI device can be connected. Also,
When the SCSI connector cover 5 is opened, the button portion of the cover switch 6 is released and is projected by the force of a spring (not shown), and the output is turned on.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for automatically recognizing the connection of a SCSI device according to the present invention. External SC
When connecting an SI device (S1), the SCSI connector cover 5 is opened (S2), and the SCSI
Connect the SI cable (S3).

Then, the power is turned on (S4). If you do not connect an external SCSI device,
The power is turned on while the CSI connector cover 5 is kept closed. When the power is turned on (S4), it is recognized from the output of the cover switch 6 whether the SCSI connector cover 5 is open or closed (S5).

When the output of the cover switch 6 is ON and the SCSI
When it is recognized that the connector cover 5 is open, it is determined that an external SCSI device is
The boot for the SI device is enabled (S6), whereas the output of the cover switch 6 is OFF and the SCSI
When it is recognized that the connector cover 5 is closed, the external SCSI device is determined to be unconnected and the
The boot for the SI device is invalidated (S7), and the system is started (S8).

As a result, when the SCSI connector cover 5 is open, booting for each device including an external SCSI device is executed in a preset order, and when the SCSI connector cover 5 is closed, The boot for the attached SCSI device is skipped, and the other devices are booted in a preset order.

When the system starts, work is performed. For example, maintenance work such as data backup is performed using an external SCSI device such as an MO (S9). When the operation is completed, the power is turned off (S10). External S
When the CSI device is connected (S11), and when the CSI device is removed (S12), S
The CSI cable is removed (S13), and the cover is closed (S14). Thus, a series of operations is completed.

If no external SCSI device is connected, a series of operations are completed by turning off the power.
If the external SCSI device is not removed, a series of operations is completed by turning off the power. As described above, according to the present invention, when the power of the terminal is turned on, the presence or absence of the external SCSI device is determined based on the open / closed state of the SCSI connector cover 5, and the external connector is opened if the SCSI connector cover 5 is open. The system is started by executing the boot of the SCSI assuming that the SCSI device is connected, and if the SCSI connector cover 5 is closed, it is assumed that the external SCSI device is not connected and the SCSI
The system is started without executing the boot of I.

Hereinafter, details from the detection of the opening and closing of the SCSI connector cover 5 to the start of the system in the first embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, S
When the power is turned on, the CPU 1 issues an I / O read command in order to reflect the open / closed state of the CSI connector cover 5 in the setting for enabling or disabling the boot of the SCSI device. With this command, the CPU 1 reads the state of the cover switch 6, and the cover switch 6
If N, the boot of the SCSI device is set to be valid in the boot-related settings stored in the BBM 2.

On the other hand, the cover switch 6 is turned off.
In this case, the boom of the SCSI device of the BBM 2 is set to be invalid. Then, after updating the setting of BBM2, the CPU 1 reads the value of BBM2. When the cover switch 6 is ON, that is, when the SCSI connector cover 5 is open, the boot for the SCSI device is set to be valid, so that the SCSI device is accessed and the connected SCSI device is recognized. Then, the connected SCSI device and other devices are booted in a predetermined order,
Start the system.

When the cover switch 6 is turned off,
When the CSI connector cover 5 is closed, the boot for the SCSI device is set to be invalid.
Access to the I device is not performed, and the connected devices are booted in a predetermined order to start the system. As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the SCSI connector 4 is provided with the SCSI connector cover 5 and the SCSI connector cover 5 is provided.
A cover switch 6 whose output changes according to the opening and closing of the switch is provided.
When it is determined that the connector cover 5 is open, the CPU 1
Sets the boot setting of the BBM2 SCSI device to be valid, reads the BBM2, starts the system, and determines from the output of the cover switch 6 that the SCSI connector cover 5 is closed. Set the device boot setting to disabled and then
Since the system is started by reading BBM2, the presence or absence of an external SCSI device is automatically recognized. If an external SCSI device is connected, booting can be executed. Therefore, when an external SCSI device is connected or detached for maintenance or the like, it is not necessary to manually perform the BIOS setup every time, and the labor can be saved.

Further, by attaching the SCSI connector 4 to the front side of the apparatus, it becomes easy to attach and detach the cable of the SCSI device. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when the power is turned on, the BBM is changed according to the state of the cover switch 6.
After rewriting 2, CPU 1 starts the system,
Such a procedure may be set in the BIOS, and by providing such a BIOS, an apparatus can be provided using a conventional motherboard.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the information processing terminal according to the present invention. A CPU 1 controls the entire information processing terminal such as a so-called personal computer. 2 is BBM (battery backup memory)
This is provided to store the status of the hardware of the information processing terminal such as data set in the BIOS setup.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a SCSI controller which controls a SCSI device. Reference numeral 4 denotes a SCSI connector to which a cable of an external SCSI device is connected, which is provided on the front of the apparatus. 5 is a SCSI connector cover,
The SCSI connector 4 is openably and closably covered.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a cover switch, which is turned ON / OFF by opening and closing the SCSI connector cover 5.
In the following description, when the SCSI connector cover 5 is open, the output of the cover switch 6 is ON,
When the connector cover 5 is closed, the output of the cover switch 6 is turned off. Here, the appearance of the information processing terminal according to the second embodiment is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 2. When an external SCSI device is not connected to the information processing terminal, the SCSI connector cover 5 is closed. , SC
The SI connector 4 is not exposed, and the cable of the external SCSI device cannot be connected. Also, SCSI
When the connector cover 5 is closed, the button portion of the cover switch 6 is pressed by the SCSI connector cover 5,
The output is turned off.

On the other hand, when an external SCSI device is connected to the information processing terminal, the SCSI connector 4 is exposed by opening the SCSI connector cover 5, and the cable of the external SCSI device can be connected. Further, when the SCSI connector cover 5 is opened, the button portion of the cover switch 6 is released and protrudes by the force of a spring (not shown), and the output is turned on.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the SCSI connector cover 5 is closed. 7 is an address conversion unit, and an external S
An instruction to read an address holding information on whether to enable or disable the boot of the CSI device is converted so as to read the state of the cover switch 6. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the address conversion unit.
When a command is issued to read the address holding the boot valid / invalid information of the CSI device, the address decoder 8 performs conversion so as to read the state of the cover switch 6 and outputs the output of the cover switch 6. ON
, The CPU 1 recognizes that the boot for the SCSI device is valid, and the output of the cover switch 6 is turned off.
Then, the CPU 1 recognizes that the boot for the SCSI device is invalid. In addition, when the CPU 1 issues a command to read from the CPU 1 an address or the like that holds boot valid / invalid information of a device other than an external SCSI device, the address decoder 8 causes the address decoder 8 to read the corresponding address of the BBM 2. Lead.

Next, the operation of the information processing terminal according to the second embodiment will be described. Here, also in the second embodiment, the overall flow of the operation is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 3, and when the power of the terminal is turned on, the open / close state of the SCSI connector cover 5 changes to the state of the external SCSI. It is determined whether or not the device is connected. If the SCSI connector cover 5 is open, the external SCSI device is assumed to be connected, the SCSI boot is executed, the system is started, and the SCSI connector cover 5 is closed. If the external SCSI device is not connected,
The system is started without executing the boot of I.

Hereinafter, details from the detection of the open / close of the SCSI connector cover 5 to the start of the system in the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, S
When the power is turned on, the CPU 1 reads the value of the BBM 2 in order to reflect the open / closed state of the CSI connector cover 5 on the setting for enabling or disabling the boot of the SCSI device. At this time, an external SCS
When a command is issued to read the address of the I-device that holds the boot valid / invalid information, the address conversion unit 7 performs conversion so as to read the state of the cover switch 6. Thus, the CPU 1 recognizes the validity / invalidity of the boot of the external SCSI device by reading the state of the cover switch 6, and if the output of the cover switch 6 is ON, the boot for the SCSI device is valid. If the output of the cover switch 6 is OFF, it is recognized that the boot for the SCSI device is invalid. Further, when a command is issued from the CPU 1 to read an address or the like holding information on boot valid / invalid of devices other than the external SCSI device, the address conversion unit 7 reads the corresponding address of the BBM 2.

Thus, the output of the cover switch 6 becomes O
If N, the CPU 1 accesses the SCSI device and recognizes the connected SCSI device. Further, other devices for which boot is enabled are recognized from the settings of BBM2. Then, the connected SCSI device and other devices are booted in a predetermined order, and the system is started.

On the other hand, if the output of the cover switch 6 is OFF, the CPU 1 does not access the SCSI device and recognizes another device for which boot is valid from the setting of the BBM 2. Then, the connected devices are booted in a predetermined order, and the system is started. As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the SCSI connector 4 is provided with the SCSI connector cover 5, and the cover switch 6 whose output is changed by opening and closing the SCSI connector cover 5 is provided. An address conversion unit 7 is provided that causes the CPU 1 to recognize the state of the cover switch 6 as information as to whether to enable or disable booting of an external SCSI device. When a command is issued to read the address of the attached SCSI device that holds the boot valid / invalid information, the address converter 7 reads the state of the cover switch 6 and responds to the state of the cover switch 6. As in the first embodiment, an external SCSI device is used as in the first embodiment. Scan is the presence or absence automatically recognizes connection, if the SCSI devices external is connected becomes possible to execute the boot,
When an external SCSI device is connected or detached for maintenance or the like, it is not necessary to manually set up the BIOS every time, thereby saving labor.

In the second embodiment, the power supply O
At N, the CPU 1 only needs to read the BBM 2 as before, so that the device can be provided with a general-purpose BIOS. In addition,
Some information processing terminals such as general-purpose PCs can set the boot order in BIOS setup. Therefore,
If the information processing terminal according to the above-described first or second embodiment is set so that the boot of the SCSI device is executed first in advance, the power is turned on.
When the SCSI connector cover 5 is open and the SCSI
When the device boot is enabled, the SCSI
Device boot can be performed first and external SC
Using a CD-ROM drive as the SI device,
-Useful when booting the system from ROM.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to a device connected to a SCSI interface as an external device, the present invention is also applicable to other IDE interfaces, RS232C interfaces, centro interfaces, and the like.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, a connector for connecting an external device is provided with an openable / closable cover, and when the information processing terminal is turned on, the cover is open. When recognizing that, it boots the external device to start the system, and when recognizing that the cover is closed, skips the boot of the external device and starts the system. It is not necessary to start up the BIOS setup and switch the setting of the boot every time a connected device is connected or disconnected, thereby saving time and effort.

If no external device is connected, the external device is not automatically booted, so that the system startup time can be optimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an information processing terminal according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary front view of the information processing terminal according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for automatically recognizing connection of a SCSI device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the information processing terminal of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an address conversion unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 BBM 3 SCSI controller 4 SCSI connector 5 SCSI connector cover 6 Cover switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] An openable / closable cover is provided on a connector for connecting an external device, and a cover switch whose output is changed by opening / closing the cover is provided, and booting of the external device from the output of the cover switch is provided. An information processing terminal provided with control means for switching between valid and invalid. 2. The information processing terminal according to claim 1, wherein a connector is provided on a front surface of the apparatus, and the connector is provided with an openable / closable cover. 3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprises a CPU and a memory for storing hardware status, and when the power is turned on, the CPU responds to an output of a cover switch. An information processing terminal characterized by switching a setting for enabling or disabling a bud of an external device stored in a memory, reading the memory, and activating the system according to the setting. 4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a CPU, a memory for storing hardware status, and an address for converting an output of the cover switch into a boot set value of an external device. When the power is turned on, the CPU receives the output of the cover switch from the address conversion circuit as the boot setting value of the external device when the memory is read, and starts the system according to the setting. An information processing terminal, characterized in that: 5. An openable / closable cover is provided on a connector for connecting an external device, and when the information processing terminal is powered on, if the cover is open, the external device is booted. Automatically booting the external device and, when the cover is closed, skipping the boot of the external device and starting the system, wherein the automatic connection recognition method of the external device in the information processing terminal is provided.