JP2003162347A - Power source controlling method in information processing system, information processing system, power source control program in information processing system, electronic appliance, power source controlling method in electronic appliance, power source controlling program in electronic appliance, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power source controlling method in an information processing system and the information processing system, a power source controlling program in the information processing system, an electronic appliance, a power source controlling method in the electronic appliance, a power source controlling program in the electronic appliance and a storage medium which can realize the miniaturization, a low price and a simple installation of an information device such as USB host equipment. <P>SOLUTION: The information device consists of a USB device equipment 100 which does not have a self power source and the USB host equipment 120 having a function for supplying power to the USB device equipment 100. The USB host equipment 120 returns power supplied from the USB device equipment 100 when it is connected with the USB device equipment 100. The equipment USB device 100 detects connecting of the USB host equipment 120 by the returned power, and validates a USB interface circuit part 102. When detecting validating of the USB interface circuit part 102, the USB host equipment 120 operates so as to start supplying of power to be supplied from the USB device equipment 100. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a USB (Universa
l Serial Bus: a power supply control method in an information processing system including information devices mutually connected by a universal serial bus, an information processing system, a power supply control program in the information processing system, an electronic device, and a power supply control method in an electronic device, The present invention relates to a power supply control program in an electronic device and a storage medium storing the power supply control program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an information processing system in which a plurality of information devices are connected and used, each of the information devices has a built-in power supply device or operates by connecting to a power supply device individually. .

In addition, in a communication interface between information devices such as IEEE 1394 and USB, a mechanism is provided not only for connecting the information devices with a cable for communication but also for supplying power to another device through the cable.
The information equipment that operates with the power consumption within the standard is configured so that it can be operated with the power supplied from the connection cable without having a separate self-power supply device.

The USB is defined based on a unified interface for connecting a computer and a medium / low speed device such as a mouse, a keyboard and a printer. USB
Before, the keyboard became the keyboard port, the mouse became the mouse port, and the printer became the printer port.
The connection destination is determined for each device, such as a port, and the host device had to have a connection port for each device. By adopting this USB, the host device has one type of USB port. In preparation, the user need only connect the USB compatible device to the USB port regardless of the type of device.

The USB device is roughly classified as a device constituting a bus. A USB host device for controlling the bus like a computer and a computer such as a mouse, a keyboard or a printer are connected to the USB device for controlling the USB host device. There are two types of USB device devices that work below.
The USB standard specifies that power is supplied from a USB host device to a USB device device via a USB cable, and the USB device device can also operate using the power supplied from the USB cable. is there. However, since the USB host device cannot receive power from the USB device device,
The host device had to have its own operating power supply.

[0006]

With the widespread use of USB device devices, there is an increasing need for USB host devices other than computers as USB host devices for connecting abundant USB device devices as described above.
Examples of a USB host device connected to a USB device device include a LAN-USB adapter that operates by converting a LAN interface into a USB interface, and a wireless communication-USB adapter that operates by converting a wireless communication interface into a USB interface. Communication adapters are on the market.

These USB adapters are the same as computers in that they are connected to USB device devices as USB host devices, but they can be realized with smaller hardware and software than computers, so they can be made smaller and consume less. It can be converted to electricity.

However, in the conventional USB standard, as described above, the USB host device is a side that supplies power, and is not specified in the standard to operate with the power supplied. Therefore, the USB host device must always have a self-power source, which has been a factor limiting the miniaturization, cost reduction, and ease of installation of the USB host device.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to realize miniaturization, cost reduction, and ease of installation of an information device such as a USB host device. A power supply control method in an information processing system, an information processing system, a power supply control program in an information processing system, an electronic device, a power supply control method in an electronic device, a power supply control program in an electronic device, and a storage medium.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a power supply control method in an information processing system according to claim 1 is an information processing system including a first information device and a second information device. A power supply control method, wherein the second information device returns power supplied from the first information device to the first information device when the second information device is connected to the first information device. The information device detects that the second information device is connected by the returned power source,
The interface circuit is enabled, and the second information device starts supplying power supplied from the first information device when detecting that the interface circuit is enabled.

In order to achieve the above object, a power supply control method in an information processing system according to claim 2 is
The power supply control method in the information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the second information device does not have a self-operating power supply, and operates using the power supply supplied from the first information device. .

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a power supply control method in an information processing system according to a third aspect is
The power supply control method in the information processing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first information device is a USB (Un
iversal Serial Bus)
Device device and the second information device is USB
(Universal Serial Bus) It is characterized by being a host device.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, an information processing system according to a fourth aspect is provided with a first information device and a second information device.
An information processing system including the information device of No. 1, and means for returning the power supplied from the first information device to the first information device when connected to the first information device, Means for detecting that the second information device is connected by a power supply and activating the interface circuit;
Means for starting the supply of power supplied from the first information device when detecting that the interface circuit is activated.

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing system according to a fifth aspect is the information processing system according to the fourth aspect, wherein the second information device does not have a self-operating power source, and It is characterized in that it operates using a power supply supplied from the first information device.

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing system according to claim 6 is the information processing system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the first information device is a USB (Universal Serial Bus: It is characterized in that it is a universal serial bus (USB) device device, and the second information device is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) host device.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, an information processing system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention comprises a first information device and a second information device, and the first information device is a second information device.
Connecting means for connecting the second information equipment, detecting means for detecting that the second information equipment is connected, power supply means for supplying power to the second information equipment, and the first connecting means for connecting the second information equipment. A second information device, and a communication interface means for communicating with the second information device.
When the connection of the information device of the second is detected, the communication interface unit is activated, and the second
The information equipment of, the connection means for connecting to the first information equipment, the power receiving means for receiving power from the first information equipment, the communication interface means for communicating with the first information equipment, The communication interface with the first information device, the power supply controlling unit controlling whether or not the power received from the power supply receiving unit is supplied to the inside of the device according to the validity / invalidity of the communication interface unit, and the communication interface When the means is effective, it operates so as to supply the power received from the power receiving means to the inside of the device to start the operation.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the information processing system according to claim 8 is the information processing system according to claim 7, wherein the second information device is the first communication interface. When the means is ineffective, it operates so as to stop the supply of the power source received from the power source receiving means to the inside of the device.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the information processing system according to claim 9 is the information processing system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first information device has a plurality of operation modes. When the device has an operation mode in which the device can communicate with the second information device by using the communication interface unit, the device operates to validate the communication interface unit.

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing system according to claim 10 is the information processing system according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the second information device is the power source. The first information device detects the connection notification signal and enables the communication interface means, the output means outputting the signal generated from the power supply received from the power receiving means to the communication interface means as a connection notification signal. It is characterized by

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing system according to claim 11 is the information processing system according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the first information device and the second information device are used. The connection means provided in each of the information devices is a connection connector.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the information processing system according to claim 12 is the information processing system according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the first information device and the second information device are used. The communication interface means included in each of the information devices performs serial data communication.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the information processing system according to claim 13 is the information processing system according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the first information device and the second information device are connected. The communication interface means provided in each of the information devices is a USB (Universal Seri
al Bus: Universal Serial Bus), the first
Information equipment is USB device equipment, and second information equipment is U
It is an SB host device.

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing system according to claim 14 is the information processing system according to any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein the first information device and the second information device are connected. The connection connectors provided in each of the information devices include a USB standard signal and a power supply supplied from the first information device to the second information device.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, an information processing system according to a fifteenth aspect is the information processing system according to any one of the seventh to thirteenth aspects, wherein the first information device and the second information device are connected. Each of the information devices includes a first connector and a second connector, the first connector is a USB standard connector, and the second connector is the first connector. Is a power supply connector for supplying power from the information device to the second information device.

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing system according to claim 16 is the information processing system according to claim 14 or 1.
5. The information processing system according to 5, wherein the first information device and the second information device are connected by a connection cable.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the power supply control program in the information processing system according to claim 17 is a power supply control program in an information processing system including a first information device and a second information device. There
The power supply control program for the first information device is the second
Detects that the second information device is connected by a power signal output from the information device, activates the interface circuit, and the power supply control program for the second information device activates the interface circuit. When the fact is detected, the supply of power supplied from the first information device is started.

In order to achieve the above object, the power supply control program in the information processing system according to claim 18 is the power supply control program in the information processing system according to claim 17, wherein the first information device is U
An SB (Universal Serial Bus) device device and the second information device is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) host device.

In order to achieve the above object, a power supply control method in an information processing system according to a nineteenth aspect is a power supply control method in an information processing system including a first information device and a second information device. Then, the second information device returns the power supplied from the first information device to the first information device when connected to the first information device, and the first information device is The connection of the second information device is detected by the returned power source.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the power control method in the information processing system according to claim 20 is the power control method in the information processing system according to claim 19, in which the second information device is It is characterized in that it does not have a self-operating power source and operates using the power source supplied from the first information device.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, an information processing system according to a twenty-first aspect is an information processing system including a first information device and a second information device, and the first information device. Means for returning power supplied from the first information device to the first information device when connected to the device;
Means for detecting that the second information device is connected by the returned power source.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the information processing system according to claim 22 is the information processing system according to claim 21, wherein the second information device does not have a self-operating power supply, and It is characterized in that it operates using a power supply supplied from the first information device.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to a twenty-third aspect is an electronic device connected to an external device, and is supplied from the external device when the external device is connected. Means for returning a power source to the external device, and the external device detecting that the electronic device is connected by the returned power source, enabling the interface circuit to the external device, and enabling the interface circuit And a means for starting the supply of the power supplied from the external device.

In order to achieve the above object, the electronic device according to a twenty-fourth aspect is the electronic device according to the twenty-third aspect, wherein the electronic device does not have a self-operating power supply and is supplied from the external device. It is characterized in that it operates by using a power source.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a power supply control method in an electronic device according to a twenty-fifth aspect is a power supply control method in an electronic device connected to an external device, when the external device is connected. The power supplied from the external device to the external device, causing the external device to detect that the electronic device is connected by the returned power, and enabling the interface circuit to the external device. When it is detected that the circuit is activated, the supply of the power supplied from the external device is started.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a power supply control program in an electronic device according to claim 26 is:
A power supply control program for an electronic device connected to an external device, characterized in that supply of power supplied from the external device is started when it is detected that an interface circuit of the external device is activated.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a storage medium according to a twenty-sixth aspect is characterized in that the power supply control program according to the seventeenth, eighteenth or eighteenth aspect is stored.

[0037]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system is a USB (Universal Seri).
An al Bus (Universal Serial Bus) device device 100 and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) host device 120 are connected by a connector described later.

The USB device 100 is a connector 10
1 and the connector 101 has a USB host device 12
0 is connected. The connector 101 includes a power pin supplied from the USB device 100 to the USB host device 120 in addition to the signal pin assigned to the USB connector defined by the USB standard.
Reference numeral 102 denotes a USB interface circuit unit, which controls communication with a USB host device 120 conforming to the USB standard and USB.
It controls communication with the device function unit in the device 100. Reference numeral 103 denotes a differential serial data signal line, D + and D- signal lines defined by the USB standard, which connects between the USB interface circuit unit 102 and the connector 101 and communicates with the USB host device 120. 104 is U
Power is supplied from the USB host device 120 to the USB device device 100 via the power supply line defined by the SB standard. The USB interface circuit unit 102 of the USB device 100 monitors the power line 104,
The USB host device 120 is connected to the connector 101,
And it detects that it is operable. Power line 104
Is valid, that is, when it is detected that power is supplied, the USB interface circuit unit 102 sets “D +” or “D−” of the differential serial data signal line to high (Hi).
gh) state and notifies the USB host device 120 that the USB interface is enabled. The USB device 100 determines whether it is a two-speed communication device defined by the USB standard, that is, a high-speed full-speed device or a low-speed low-speed device. In the case of a low-speed device, "D-" is set to the High state to notify. Reference numeral 105 represents a device function unit that provides a device function of the USB device 100 as one block. For example, when the USB device device 100 is an inkjet printer device, the device function unit 105 represents a block providing a function as a printer, that is, a print head, a head drive mechanism, a paper feed mechanism, and a control unit thereof. Is. 106
Is a communication bus that connects the USB interface circuit unit 102 and the device function unit 105. A power supply circuit unit 107 supplies operating power to the USB interface circuit unit 102 and the device function unit 105, and also via the power supply protection circuit unit 108 including a fuse or the like, the connector 1
01 to supply operation power to the USB host device 120.

The USB host device 120 has a connector 121.
And a USB device unit 10 is attached to this connector 121.
0 is connected. The connector 121 includes a power pin for the USB host device 120 to receive supply from the USB device device 100, in addition to the signal pin assigned to the USB connector defined by the USB standard. A USB interface circuit unit 122 controls communication with the USB device 100 according to the USB standard and a main body function unit 124 in the USB host device 120, which will be described later.
Control communication with. Reference numeral 123 is a differential serial data signal line, "D +" and "D-" signal line defined by the USB standard, which connects between the USB interface circuit unit 122 and the connector 121, and which is the USB device unit 10.
Communicate with 0. In addition, the differential serial data signal line 1
23 is also connected to a detection unit 126 described later. 1
Reference numeral 24 represents a main body function unit that provides a main body function of the USB host device 120 as one block.
For example, when the USB host device 120 is a wireless communication-USB conversion adapter, it provides a wireless communication function such as an antenna and a high frequency circuit section, a protocol conversion function for converting a wireless communication protocol to a USB protocol, and a communication data buffer function. It represents a block to be executed. 12
A communication bus 5 connects the USB interface circuit unit 122 and the main body function unit 124. A detection unit 126 monitors the differential serial data signal line 123 in a state before the connection with the USB device 100 is established, and when the “D +” signal line is in the High state, the full speed USB device indicates “D”. When the signal line is in the High state, it is detected that the low speed USB device is connected to the connector 121 and the USB interface is enabled, and a signal for instructing the power supply control circuit unit 128 to start supplying power is sent. Output. Power control circuit unit 128
Controls the supply of power to the power supply circuit unit 127 described later according to the output signal from the detection unit 126. Detector 12
When the power supply start signal from 6 is validated, the power supply control circuit unit 128 supplies power to the power supply circuit unit 127, and when the power supply start signal is disabled, operates to cut off the power supply. .

The power supply circuit section 127 includes the power supply control circuit section 12
The power supplied from the USB interface circuit unit 1
22 and the main body functional unit 124. If it is necessary to perform voltage conversion, the power supply circuit unit 127 performs DC / DC conversion. A power supply line 129 is supplied from the USB device device through the connector, and is connected to the power supply control circuit unit 128 at the same time as a power supply line supplied from the USB host device 120 defined by the USB standard to the USB device device 100. , Is returned to the connector 101.

The USB interface circuit section 102 of the USB device unit 100 monitors the power line 104 to detect that the USB host unit 120 is connected to the connector 101.

The detection unit 126 receives the USB interface invalidation signal from the USB interface circuit unit 122 instead of detecting whether the USB interface is invalidated from the state of the "D +" or "D-" signal. To detect. After receiving the USB interface invalidation signal, the detection unit 126 invalidates the power supply start signal output to the power supply control circuit unit 128. When the power supply start signal is invalidated, the power supply control circuit unit 128 cuts off the power supply, so that the power supplied to the USB host device 120 through the power supply circuit unit 127 is cut off and the USB host device 120 operates. To stop.

Hereinafter, the processing operation from the connection of the USB host device 120 to the USB device device 100 in the information processing system according to the present embodiment until the establishment of the USB interface connection will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. .

The flowchart shown in FIG. 2 shows the processing operations in the USB device unit 100 and the USB host unit 120 in chronological order.

Connector 10 of USB device 100
1 to the connector 121 of the USB host device 120 (step S200 in FIG. 2). Here, it is assumed that the USB device 100 is already in operation.

When the connectors 101 and 121 are connected,
Power is supplied from the USB device device 100 to the USB host device 120, and the power is looped back by the power line 129 inside the USB host device 120.
Power is supplied to the power line 104 inside the B-device 100. The USB device unit 100 includes a power supply line 104 monitored by the USB interface circuit unit 102.
To the connector 101,
It is detected that the SB host device 120 is connected (step S210 in FIG. 2).

Next, the USB interface circuit section 102 inside the USB device unit 100 waits for the initialization signal from the USB host unit 120 after activating the USB interface circuit unit 102. At this time, US
USB interface circuit unit 1 of B device 100
02 sets “D +” or “D−” of the differential serial data signal line 123 of the USB interface to the High state. As described above, which of the “D +” and “D−” signals is to be in the High state is determined by the USB device unit 100.
According to the USB standard, if the device itself is a full-speed device, "D +" is displayed.
-"Is set to a high state (step S22 in FIG. 2)
0).

The USB host device 120 has a detection unit 126.
Detects that "D +" or "D-" of the USB device 100 is in the High state, and outputs a signal instructing the power supply control circuit unit 128 to start supplying power (step S230 of FIG. 2). ).

The power supply control circuit section 128 of the USB host device 120 starts supplying power to the power supply circuit section 127 according to the power supply output instruction signal from the detection section 126. The power supply circuit unit 127 that has been supplied with power is the USB host device 1
Power supply to each block inside 20, the USB interface circuit unit 122, and the main body function unit 124 is started (step S240 in FIG. 2).

The USB host device 120, which has been supplied with operating power from the power circuit 127, performs an internal initialization process (step S250 in FIG. 2).

After performing the internal initialization process, the initialization process of the USB interface is performed (step S26 in FIG. 2).
0). In step S260, communication is performed with the USB interface circuit unit 102 of the USB device device 100.

Even in the USB device 100, the US
B It communicates with the host device 120 and performs the initialization process of the USB interface (step S270 in FIG. 2).

After the initialization process of the USB interface, U
The SB interface connection is established (the USB host device 120 is step S280 in FIG. 2, and the USB device device 100 is step S290 in FIG. 2).

As described in detail above, in the conventional information processing system in which a plurality of information devices are connected and used, each information device has a built-in power supply device or operates by connecting to a power supply device individually. Was. In the USB standard,
Since the USB host device is not standardized to operate by receiving power supply from the USB device device, the conventional USB host device needs to have its own operating power supply.

On the other hand, according to the information processing system of this embodiment, the USB device unit 100
Since the power is supplied to the B host device 120, the USB host device 120 does not need to have its own power source, and thus it is possible to realize downsizing, cost reduction, and easy installation.

Further, according to the information processing system of the present embodiment, the addition of the power supply function from the USB device unit 100 to the USB host unit 120 is performed by the conventional USB.
Since the software compatibility as a device is maintained,
This has the effect that no software changes are required.

Further, conventionally, in order to use a USB host device, it was necessary to connect an operating power cable of the USB host device and connect the USB cable to the USB device device. According to the information processing system of the above, the USB host device 120 does not need to secure its own operating power source, and the USB device device 100
Since it is only necessary to connect to, there is an effect that installation is simplified.

In this embodiment, U in FIG.
Although the SB interface circuit units 102 and 122 are described as independent blocks, a multifunctional CPU (Central P
rocessing Unit: USB built in central processing unit)
It may be an interface function block. In addition, the device function unit 10 in the USB device device 100
In the description of 5, the printer function is taken as an example, but the function is not particularly limited to this, and a digital camera function, a digital movie function, a storage function, or the like may be used.

In the USB device 100,
There is a device configured to individually have an operation mode called a communication mode for communicating with the outside through a USB interface, enable the USB interface only when the operation mode is set to the communication mode, and communicate with an external device. For example, a digital camera that operates as the USB device 100 has a shooting mode that operates as a camera and an operation mode that communicates with the outside through a USB interface, and the USB interface is disabled in the shooting mode. A product configured to enable the USB interface function when the digital camera is set to the communication mode has been commercialized. Such a digital camera may have a USB interface with a US interface after the operation mode is set to the communication mode.
B It detects that the host device 120 is connected and detects the USB
Operates to enable the interface. in this case,
The operation start process of the USB function unit corresponds to step S210 of FIG. 2 in the present embodiment, and thereafter, the same operation as in the present embodiment can be performed. Therefore, the present invention is also effective for a device having a USB communication mode as an individual operation mode.

Also, in the description of the main body function section 124 inside the USB host device 120, the wireless communication function is taken as an example, but the function is not limited to this function.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the integrated connectors 101 and 121 are used to connect the USB host device 120 and the USB device device 100, but it is different from the connector conforming to the USB standard. Even when the power supply connectors are provided and the connectors are configured to be connected using the conversion connector, the USB host device 120 and the USB device device 100 are connected using the USB cable and the power cable. It may be configured.

Even when the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (eg, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), a device composed of one device (eg, copying machine, facsimile). Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium having a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or apparatus, and to supply the computer (or CPU or MP of the system or apparatus).
It is needless to say that (U, etc.) is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

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

A storage medium for supplying the program code is, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a CD-RO.
M, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-
RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

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

[0069]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Since the power is supplied from the first information device (USB device device) to the second information device (USB host device), the second information device (USB host device) does not have its own power source. Since it is good, downsizing, cost reduction, and ease of installation can be realized.

Further, according to the present invention, the addition of the power supply function from the first information device (USB device device) to the second information device (USB host device) is software compatible as the conventional USB information device. Since the property is maintained, there is an effect that the software does not need to be changed.

Further, conventionally, in order to use the second information device (USB host device), this second information device (U
SB host device) power cable for operation,
Although it was necessary to connect the B cable to the first information device (USB device device), according to the present invention,
The information device (USB host device) does not need to secure a power supply for its own operation, and only needs to be connected to the first information device (USB device device), which has the effect of simplifying the installation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing operations between the USB host device and the USB device device when the power of the USB host device of the information processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention is turned on.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 USB device equipment (first information equipment) 101 connector 102 USB interface circuit section 103 differential serial data signal line 104 power line 105 Device function part 106 communication bus 107 power supply circuit section 108 Power supply protection circuit 120 USB host device (second information device) 121 connector 122 USB interface circuit section 123 Differential serial data signal line 124 Main body function part 125 communication bus 126 detector 127 power supply circuit 128 power supply control circuit 129 Power line

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (54) [Title of Invention] Power control method in information processing system, information processing system, and power in information processing system                     Source control program, electronic device, power supply control method in electronic device, and power supply control in electronic device                     Program and storage medium

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. A power supply control method in an information processing system including a first information device and a second information device, wherein the second information device is configured to connect to the first information device when the second information device is connected to the first information device. The power supplied from the first information device is the first
The first information device is returned to the second information device by the returned power source.
Detecting that the information device is connected to enable the interface circuit, and the second information device detects that the interface circuit is enabled, and the second information device detects the power supply from the first information device. A power supply control method in an information processing system, characterized by starting supply. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the second information device does not have a self-operating power source, and operates using the power source supplied from the first information device. Power control method. 3. The first information device is a USB (Universa)
l Serial Bus: A universal serial bus (USB) device device, and the second information device is a USB (Univer
sal serial bus: universal serial bus) A power supply control method in an information processing system according to claim 1 or 2, which is a host device. 4. An information processing system comprising a first information device and a second information device, wherein the power supplied from the first information device when connected to the first information device is the information processing system. Means for returning to the first information device, means for detecting that the second information device is connected by the returned power source, and means for activating the interface circuit, and detecting that the interface circuit has been activated Then, there is provided a means for starting the supply of power supplied from the first information device, the information processing system. 5. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the second information device does not have a self-operating power source, and operates using the power source supplied from the first information device. 6. The USB (Universa) is used as the first information device.
l Serial Bus: A universal serial bus (USB) device device, and the second information device is a USB (Universa) device.
l Serial Bus: Universal Serial Bus) The information processing system according to claim 4 or 5, which is a host device. 7. A first information device and a second information device, wherein the first information device is connected to the connection means for connecting the second information device and the second information device. The detection means for detecting the fact that the power supply means supplies power to the second information equipment, and the communication interface means for communicating with the second information equipment through the connection means. Operates so as to validate the communication interface unit when it is detected that the second information device is connected, and the second information device is connected to the first information device. A power receiving unit that receives power from the first information device, a communication interface unit that communicates with the first information device, and a valid / invalid state of the communication interface unit with the first information device. hand A power supply control means for controlling whether or not the power received from the power receiving means is supplied to the inside of the equipment, and the power supplied from the power receiving means is supplied to the inside of the equipment when the communication interface means is valid. An information processing system, which operates so as to start the operation. 8. The second information equipment operates so as to stop the supply of the electric power received from the power supply receiving means to the inside of the equipment when the first communication interface means is invalid. The information processing system according to claim 7. 9. The communication interface if the first information device has a plurality of operation modes and the device is in an operation mode in which the device can communicate with the second information device using the communication interface means. 9. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein the information processing system operates so as to enable the means. 10. The second information device includes output means for outputting a signal generated from a power supply received from the power supply receiving means to the communication interface means as a connection notification signal, and the first information equipment is 10. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein the connection notification signal is detected and the communication interface unit is activated. 11. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein the connecting means provided in each of the first information device and the second information device is a connection connector. 12. The communication interface means provided in each of the first information device and the second information device,
The information processing system according to any one of claims 7 to 11, which performs serial data communication. 13. The communication interface means provided in each of the first information device and the second information device,
13. A USB (Universal Serial Bus), wherein the first information device is a USB device device and the second information device is a USB host device. Information processing system described. 14. The connector provided in each of the first information device and the second information device includes a USB standard signal and a power supply supplied from the first information device to the second information device. The information processing system according to any one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that: 15. A connection connector provided in each of the first information device and the second information device is composed of a first connection connector and a second connection connector, and the first connection connector is a USB standard. 14. The connector according to claim 7, wherein the second connector is a power supply connector that supplies power from the first information device to the second information device. Information processing system. 16. The information processing system according to claim 14, wherein the first information device and the second information device are connected by a connection cable. 17. A power supply control program for an information processing system including a first information device and a second information device, wherein the power supply control program for the first information device is the second information device.
Detects that the second information device is connected by a power signal output from the information device, and activates the interface circuit. The power supply control program for the second information device activates the interface circuit. A power supply control program in an information processing system, which starts supply of power supplied from the first information device when it is detected. 18. The first information device is a USB (Univer
sal Serial Bus: Universal Serial Bus) device equipment, and the second information equipment is USB (Univ
The power supply control program in the information processing system according to claim 17, wherein the power supply control program is an ersal Serial Bus (universal serial bus) host device. 19. A power control method in an information processing system comprising a first information device and a second information device, wherein the second information device is configured to connect to the first information device when the second information device is connected to the first information device. The power supplied from the first information device is the first
The first information device is returned to the second information device by the returned power source.
A method for controlling power supply in an information processing system, comprising detecting that the information device is connected. 20. The information processing system according to claim 19, wherein the second information device does not have a self-operating power source, and operates using the power source supplied from the first information device. Power control method. 21. An information processing system comprising a first information device and a second information device, wherein the power source supplied from the first information device when connected to the first information device is the information processing system. An information processing system comprising: means for returning to the first information device; and means for detecting that the second information device is connected by the returned power source. 22. The information processing system according to claim 21, wherein the second information device does not have a self-operating power source, and operates using the power source supplied from the first information device. 23. An electronic device that is connected to an external device, wherein when the external device is connected, the power supplied from the external device is returned to the external device, and the electronic device is powered by the returned power. Is connected to the external device, the interface circuit is enabled in the external device, and when it is detected that the interface circuit is enabled, means for starting supply of power supplied from the external device, An electronic device comprising: 24. The electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the electronic device does not have a self-operating power supply and operates using a power supply supplied from the external device. 25. A power supply control method for an electronic device connected to an external device, wherein the power supplied from the external device when connected to the external device is returned to the external device, The external device detects that an electronic device is connected, and the interface circuit is enabled in the external device.
A power supply control method for an electronic device, which starts supplying power supplied from the external device when it is detected that the interface circuit is enabled. 26. A power supply control program in an electronic device connected to an external device, which starts supplying power supplied from the external device when detecting that the interface circuit of the external device has been activated. A power supply control program for a characteristic electronic device. 27. A storage medium storing the power supply control program according to claim 17, 18, or 26.