JP2008011645A - Power supply controller, electronic device, and operation control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To update a control program without the interruption of power supply control processing during an operation of an electronic device. <P>SOLUTION: A flash memory 51 stores a control program (a first program) for repetitively executing processing including the power supply control processing for sequentially controlling output voltage values from n DC-DC converters (switching power supply circuits) 142-1-142-n at regular intervals, and a rewriting program (a second program) used for updating the control program. A processor 50 loads at least a control program to a RAM 52, and executes the program. The power supply control processing performed by a processor 50 is executed within a first period of the interval. Update processing is executed within a second period of the interval, uses the rewriting program, and updates at least a portion of the control program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply control device that controls a switching power supply circuit such as a DC / DC converter, an electronic device including the power supply control device, and an operation control method for the power supply control device.

  Generally, electronic devices such as computers, televisions, and video recorders are provided with a switching power supply circuit that functions as a DC / DC converter. The output voltage value of the switching power supply circuit is controlled by the duty ratio of the pulse width modulation signal (PWM signal) supplied to the switching power supply circuit.

  Recently, a power supply control device composed of a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a one-chip microcomputer has also appeared. In such a power supply control device, the processor executes power supply control processing for controlling the duty ratio of the PWM signal supplied to the switching power supply circuit. The control program for executing the power supply control process must be updated by using a rewriting program or the like when it is necessary to correct it.

There are various techniques for rewriting a program. For example, in Patent Document 1, a new control program is downloaded from a host device, and only one of the program areas (non-executable program areas) in which a non-executed control program is stored is rewritten. Is disclosed.
JP 2003-114807 A

  By the way, the power supply control process during the operation of the electronic device is an important process, and when the control program for executing the power supply control is updated, it is required to perform the power supply control process without stopping. However, the above-described technique of Patent Document 1 cannot meet such a requirement.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a power supply control device, an electronic device, and an operation control method capable of updating a control program without stopping a power supply control process during the operation of the electronic device. The purpose is to do.

  A power supply control device according to the present invention includes a first program that repeatedly executes a process including a power supply control process for sequentially controlling output voltage values of a plurality of switching power supply circuits at a constant period, and an update of the first program And a storage device that stores a second program used for processing, and a processing device that loads and executes at least the first program on a predetermined memory, and is executed by the processing device The first program performs the power supply control process within the first period of the cycle, and updates at least a part of the first program using the second program within the second period. It is possible to perform update processing.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention is an electronic apparatus comprising a plurality of devices, a plurality of switching power supply circuits that supply operating power to the plurality of devices, and a power supply control device that controls the switching power supply circuit, The power supply control device is configured to update a first program for repeatedly executing a process including a power supply control process for sequentially controlling output voltage values of the plurality of switching power supply circuits at a constant period and the first program. The first program executed by the processing device, and a storage device for storing the second program used in the processing, and a processing device for loading and executing at least the first program on a predetermined memory. The program performs the power supply control process within a first period of the cycle, and uses the second program within the second period. Characterized in that it is possible to perform an update process for updating the program.

  An operation control method according to the present invention is an operation control method of a power supply control device for controlling a plurality of switching power supply circuits that supply an operation power supply to a plurality of devices, and outputs an output voltage value of the plurality of switching power supply circuits. Storing in a storage device a first program that repeatedly executes a process including a power supply control process for sequential control at a constant period and a second program used for updating the first program, The first program is loaded onto a predetermined memory and executed by a processing device, and the first program executed by the processing device performs the power control process within the first period of the cycle. And performing update processing for updating at least a part of the first program using the second program within the second period.

  According to the present invention, the control program can be updated without stopping the power supply control process during the operation of the electronic device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the structure of the electronic device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. This electronic device is realized as a notebook portable personal computer 10 that can be driven by a battery, for example.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the computer 10 with the display unit opened. The computer 10 includes a computer main body 11 and a display unit 12. The display unit 12 incorporates a display device composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 17, and the display screen of the LCD 17 is positioned substantially at the center of the display unit 12.

  The display unit 12 is attached to the computer main body 11 so as to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The computer main body 11 has a thin box-shaped housing to which a battery can be detachably mounted. The battery is attached to a battery housing part provided on the bottom surface of the computer main body 11, for example.

  A keyboard 13, a power button switch 14 for powering on / off the computer 1, and a touch pad 15 are arranged on the upper surface of the computer main body 11.

  Next, the system configuration of the computer 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the computer 10 includes a CPU 111, a north bridge 114, a main memory 115, a graphics controller 116, a south bridge 117, a BIOS-ROM 120, a hard disk drive (HDD) 121, and an optical disk drive (ODD) 122. , Various PCI devices 123 and 124, an embedded controller / keyboard controller IC (EC / KBC) 140, a power supply controller 141, a DC / DC converter 142, and the like.

  The CPU 111 is a processor provided to control the operation of the computer 10 and executes an operating system and various application programs loaded from the HDD 121 to the main memory 115. The CPU 111 also executes a system BIOS (Basic Input Output System) stored in the BIOS-ROM 120. The system BIOS is a program for hardware control.

  The north bridge 114 is a bridge device that connects the local bus of the CPU 111 and the south bridge 117. The north bridge 114 also includes a memory controller that controls access to the main memory 115. The north bridge 114 also has a function of executing communication with the graphics controller 116 via a PCI Express bus or the like.

  The graphics controller 116 is a display controller that controls the LCD 17 used as a display monitor of the computer 10. The graphics controller 116 has a video memory (VRAM) 116A, and generates a video signal that forms a display image to be displayed on the LCD 17 from display data written in the video memory (VRAM) 116A by the OS / application program. To do.

  The south bridge 117 is connected to the PCI bus 1 and performs communication with the PCI devices 123 and 124 via the PCI bus 1. The south bridge 117 includes an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) controller and a Serial ATA controller for controlling the hard disk drive (HDD) 121 and the optical disk drive (ODD) 122.

  The embedded controller / keyboard controller IC (EC / KBC) 140 is a one-chip microcomputer in which an embedded controller for power management and a keyboard controller for controlling the keyboard (KB) 13 and the touch pad 15 are integrated. . The EC / KBC 140 has a function of powering on / off the computer 10 in accordance with the operation of the power button switch 14 by the user. The power-on / power-off control of the computer 10 is executed by the joint operation of the EC / KBC 140 and the power supply control device 141.

  The power supply control device 141 is a device that individually controls a plurality of DC / DC converter units in the DC / DC converter 142 by a pulse width modulation signal (PWM signal), and is controlled by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a one-chip microcomputer. It has been realized. In the following, it is assumed that the power supply control device 141 is realized by a DSP.

  The power supply controller 141 determines the duty ratio of the PWM signal supplied to the corresponding DC / DC converter unit based on the output voltage value and the target voltage value of each DC / DC converter unit constituting the DC / DC converter 142. A power control process for sequentially controlling is executed. That is, by controlling the ON period of each PWM signal, the target output voltage value of each DC / DC converter unit is achieved. The power control process is executed by a processing unit (processor) in the power control device 141. The power supply control process is executed for each period of the PWM signal.

  The DC / DC converter 142 is a switching power supply circuit controlled by a PWM signal. The DC / DC converter 142 includes a plurality of DC / DC converter units, and a DC power supply voltage value from a battery 150 attached to the computer main body 11 or a DC power supply from an AC adapter 143 connected to the computer main body 11 as an external power supply. The voltage value is converted into a desired output DC power supply voltage value (hereinafter simply referred to as an output voltage value). Each DC / DC converter unit includes a switching element that is switching-controlled by a PWM signal. The output voltage value output from each DC / DC converter unit changes according to the duty ratio of the PWM signal.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the power supply control device 141 and the DC / DC converter 142.

  The DC / DC converter 142 includes n DC / DC converter units (switching power supply circuits) 142-1, 142-2, 142-3, ..., 142-n. The DC / DC converter unit 142-1 includes a switching element (FET) 101, a rectifying element (commutation diode) 102, a coil 103, and a capacitor 104. The DC / DC converter unit 142-2 includes a switching element (FET) 201, a rectifying element (commutation diode) 202, a coil 203, and a capacitor 204. The DC / DC converter unit 142-3 includes a switching element (FET) 301, a rectifying element (commutation diode) 302, a coil 303, and a capacitor 304. The DC / DC converter unit 142-n includes a switching element (FET) n01, a rectifying element (commutation diode) n02, a coil n03, and a capacitor n04.

  The DC / DC converter unit 142-1 converts the input voltage Vin into the output voltage Vout1. The DC / DC converter unit 142-2 converts the input voltage Vin into the output voltage Vout2. The DC / DC converter 142-3 converts the input voltage Vin into the output voltage Vout3. The DC / DC converter unit 142-4 converts the input voltage Vin into the output voltage Vout4. Each output voltage is supplied as an operation power source to various devices in the computer 10.

  The power supply control device 141 corresponds to the processor 50, the flash memory 51, the RAM (Random Access Memory) 52, and the n DC / DC converter units 142-1, 142-2, 142-3, ..., 142-n, respectively. , N05, and n PWM signal output units 106, 206, 306,..., N06.

  Each output voltage input unit receives an output voltage obtained from the output terminal of the corresponding DC / DC converter unit, converts this from an analog value to a digital value, and holds it. Each PWM signal output unit generates a PWM signal for switching control of the switching element of the corresponding DC / DC converter unit. The duty ratio of the PWM signal is determined by the processor 50.

  The processor 50 executes a control program to execute a power supply control process for controlling the duty ratio of the PWM signal based on the output voltage value of the DC / DC converter 142 and the target voltage value. The power supply control process calculates the target duty ratio of the PWM signal based on the process of acquiring the output voltage value of each DC / DC converter unit from each output voltage input unit 601 and the acquired output voltage value and target voltage value. And a process of outputting the calculated target duty ratio to the corresponding PWM signal output unit as control data.

  The flash memory 51 is a nonvolatile storage device, and stores a control program (first program) 61, a rewrite program (second program) 62, and the like as shown in FIG. The RAM 52 is a memory used as a work area when the processor 5 executes the control program 61 and the like.

  The control program 61 is always executed by the processor 5 during the operation of the computer 10, and the outputs of the n DC / DC converter units 142-1, 142-2, 142-3, ..., 142-n. A series of processes including a power supply control process for sequentially controlling voltage values is repeatedly executed at a constant cycle. The rewrite program 62 is a program used for updating the control program 61, and includes a program body corresponding to an upgraded version or a modified version of the control program 61 and a description part in which an update procedure is defined. .

  In particular, the control program 61 performs power supply control processing within the first period in each cycle, and performs update processing to update at least a part of the control program 61 using the rewrite program 62 within the second period. It is possible. In the second period, it is determined whether or not an update process is necessary, and when it is determined that the update process is necessary, the update process is executed. Further, the control program 61 can secure index information indicating how far the update process has progressed on the RAM 52 and execute the update process based on the index information.

  More specifically, the control program 61 performs a load process for loading a part of the rewrite program 62 from the flash memory 51 to a predetermined storage area in the RAM 52 within the second period in the first cycle. In the second period in the second cycle, a rewriting process is performed in which a part of the control program 61 stored in the flash memory 51 is rewritten using a part of the rewriting program 62 loaded in a predetermined storage area. be able to.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a control function realized by the processor 5 executing the control program 61.

  The control program 61 realizes various functions such as a processing procedure control unit 70, a power control processing execution unit 71, a processing X execution unit 72, a processing Y execution unit 73, and an index information holding unit 74.

  The processing procedure control unit 70 performs a first cycle for performing power control processing and processing X (the above-described loading processing or other processing), and a cycle for performing power control processing and processing Y (the above-described rewriting processing or other processing). Is a function for individually controlling the power supply control process execution unit 71, the process X execution unit 72, and the process Y execution unit 73 so as to be repeated alternately. The power control processing execution unit 71 is a function that executes power control processing. The process X execution unit 72 is a function for executing the process X. The process Y execution unit 73 is a function for executing the process Y. The index information holding unit 74 has a function of holding index information.

  Next, an example of a basic operation performed by the power supply control device 141 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The power supply control device 141 is activated in response to a power-on operation of the computer 10 and performs processing A including initialization of hardware and loading of the control program 61 onto the RAM 52 (step S11).

  Then, the processor 50 executes the control program 61 loaded on the RAM 52, whereby the process B is performed (step S12).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the process B includes a period for executing a “power supply control process” for sequentially controlling the output voltage values of the n DC / DC converter units in the first cycle T and this period. A period (free time) during which “process X” other than the above can be executed is allocated. As the “process X”, for example, the “load process” described above can be assigned. In the second cycle T, a period for executing the “power control process” for sequentially controlling the output voltage values of the n DC / DC converter units and a period for executing the other “process Y” ( Free time). As the “process Y”, for example, the “rewrite process” described above can be assigned.

  Next, an example of a specific operation of the process B will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the process B is started by the control program 61, in the first cycle T, a “power supply control process” for sequentially controlling the output voltage values of the n DC / DC converter units is performed within the first period ( Thereafter, “process X”, which is a process other than the “power control process”, is performed within the second period (step S22). If an update instruction has been issued to the control program 61 and the update has not been completed, the above-described “load process” is executed as “process X”. In this case, the control program 61 grasps the transfer start position in the rewrite program 62 in the flash memory 51 by referring to the index information (transfer source address or the like) reserved in a predetermined area, and The portion of the program (execution portion) that can be transferred within the second period is transferred to a work area that can be used in process Y to be described later.

  Next, in the second cycle T, “power control processing” for sequentially controlling the output voltage values of the n DC / DC converter units is performed within the first period (step S23). “Process Y”, which is a process other than “control process”, is performed within the second period (step S24). If an update instruction has been issued to the control program 61 and the update has not been completed, the “rewrite process” described above is executed as “process Y”. In this case, the control program 61 transfers the program part (execution part) transferred to the process Y work area to the flash memory 51 by referring to the index information secured in a predetermined area (for example, The program part is overwritten on the corresponding part in the control program before update in the flash memory 51).

  By repeating such a process B, a desired program update can be achieved without stopping the power supply control process during the operation of the computer 10. After the computer 10 is restarted, the updated control program is loaded on the RAM 52 and operates.

  Next, an example of a specific operation of the process X will be described with reference to FIG.

  When “processing X”, which is processing other than “power control processing”, is started by the control program 61, it is determined whether or not the control program 61 needs to be updated (rewritten). If no update is required, a process C such as an input / output process unrelated to program rewriting is performed (step S32). On the other hand, when the update is necessary, the transfer source address information secured in the predetermined area is referred to, and the portion of the program that can be transferred is transferred to the work area that can be used in the process Y (step S33).

  Here, it is determined whether or not all necessary transfers have been completed (step S34). If completed, the process X is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if not completed, the transfer source address information is updated (step S35), and the process X is terminated.

  Next, an example of a specific operation of the process Y will be described with reference to FIG.

  When “processing Y”, which is processing other than “power control processing”, is started by the control program 61, it is confirmed whether or not the program rewriting is in an incomplete state. If it is in an incomplete state, it is necessary to rewrite the program to the flash memory 51. In this case, communication processing (transfer) with the flash memory 51 is performed (step S41), and the corresponding program part is written into the flash memory 51 (step S42).

  Here, it is determined whether or not all necessary writing has been completed (step S43). If not completed, the processing from step S41 is repeated. On the other hand, if it is completed, an end notification is made by communication, and the process Y is ended.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, an important process during the operation of the computer 10 is performed by executing the process of updating the control program little by little using a small free time that can be allocated other than the power supply control process. The control program can be updated safely without stopping the power control process and without impairing the original function of the power control device. Also, the user can easily update the control program without performing difficult operations.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

The perspective view which shows the example of the external appearance of the computer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a system configuration of the computer in FIG. 1. The figure which shows an example of an internal structure of a power supply control apparatus and a DC / DC converter. The figure which shows the various programs stored in flash memory. The figure which shows an example of a structure of the control function implement | achieved when a processor runs a control program. The figure which shows an example of the basic operation | movement performed by a power supply control apparatus. The figure which shows an example of a structure of the process B. FIG. The figure which shows an example of the specific operation | movement of the process B. The figure which shows an example of the specific operation | movement of the process X. The figure which shows an example of the specific operation | movement of the process Y.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Computer, 50 ... Processor, 51 ... Flash memory, 52 ... RAM, 61 ... Control program, 62 ... Rewrite program, 70 ... Processing procedure control part, 71 ... Power supply control process execution part, 72 ... Process X execution part, 73 ... processing Y execution unit, 74 ... index information holding unit, 141 ... power supply control device, 142 ... DC / DC converter.

Claims (9)

A first program that repeatedly executes a process including a power supply control process for sequentially controlling output voltage values of a plurality of switching power supply circuits at a constant period, and a second program used for updating the first program A storage device for storing the program;
A processing apparatus that loads and executes at least the first program on a predetermined memory,
The first program executed by the processing device performs the power supply control processing within a first period of the cycle and uses the second program within the second period. A power supply control apparatus capable of performing update processing for updating at least a part of a program.   The power supply control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first program determines whether or not the update process is necessary in the second period, and executes the update process when it is determined to be necessary.   2. The power supply according to claim 1, wherein the first program secures index information indicating how far the update process has progressed in the memory, and executes the update process based on the index information. Control device.   The first program performs a load process of loading a part of the second program from the storage device into a predetermined storage area in the memory within the second period in the first cycle. In the second period in the second cycle, a part of the first program stored in the storage device is rewritten using a part of the second program loaded in the predetermined storage area. The power supply control device according to claim 1, wherein rewriting processing can be performed. Multiple devices,
A plurality of switching power supply circuits for supplying operating power to the plurality of devices;
An electronic device comprising a power supply control device for controlling the switching power supply circuit,
The power supply control device
A first program for repeatedly executing a process including a power supply control process for sequentially controlling output voltage values of the plurality of switching power supply circuits at a constant period and a second program used for updating the first program A storage device for storing the program of
A processing apparatus that loads and executes at least the first program on a predetermined memory,
The first program executed by the processing device performs the power supply control process within a first period of the cycle, and uses the second program within the second period. An electronic device capable of performing an update process for updating a program.   The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first program determines whether or not the update process is necessary in the second period, and executes the update process when it is determined to be necessary.   6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first program secures index information indicating how far the update process has progressed on the memory, and executes the update process based on the index information. machine.   The first program performs a load process of loading a part of the second program from the storage device into a predetermined storage area in the memory within the second period in the first cycle. In the second period in the second cycle, a part of the first program stored in the storage device is rewritten using a part of the second program loaded in the predetermined storage area. 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein rewriting processing can be performed. An operation control method of a power supply control device for controlling a plurality of switching power supply circuits for supplying operation power to a plurality of devices,
A first program that repeatedly executes a process including a power supply control process for sequentially controlling output voltage values of the plurality of switching power supply circuits at a constant period, and a second program that is used for updating the first program Are stored in a storage device,
At least the first program is loaded onto a predetermined memory and executed by a processing device,
The first program executed by the processing device performs the power supply control process within a first period of the cycle, and uses the second program within the second period. An operation control method comprising performing an update process for updating at least a part of a program.

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