JP3348355B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus with reduced power consumption.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A portable personal computer supplies necessary power to each section from a built-in battery. It has been proposed to provide a suspend mode (sleep mode) so that power can be supplied from a battery for as long as possible. This suspend mode is described in, for example, “Nikkei Electronics 1991.
2 (No. 535) "on page 106 to page 111 as" Developing a New Version of i386SL with Enhanced Power Management Function ".

When a user does not use a portable personal computer for a while, the user sets a suspend mode. When the suspend mode is set, the operation of the CPU is basically stopped in the portable personal computer. The supply of power to each unit is basically stopped except for the supply of power to some circuits that need to be backed up. As a result, wasteful power consumption of the battery is suppressed.

[0004] When the suspend mode is set, the user cannot process predetermined information using the portable personal computer. For example, even if the portable personal computer has a function of playing a CD (Compact Disc), the CD cannot be played in the suspend mode. CD
In order to play back, the user needs to release the suspend mode. After canceling the suspend mode, if you command CD playback, the LCD of the portable personal computer
Displays, for example, button icons and the like necessary for playing a CD as shown in FIG. The user can play the CD by appropriately operating the button icon using a mouse or the like. The CPU supplies power to the entire portable personal computer when the suspend mode is released, so that the CD can be played.

[0005]

As described above, when a conventional portable personal computer plays a CD from a state in which the suspend mode is set, the suspend mode must be released. Electric power is also supplied to unnecessary parts, the power of the battery is consumed more than necessary, and there is a problem that the battery cannot be used for a long time. The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to suppress power consumption of a battery more than necessary, so that power can be supplied from a battery for a long time. .

[0006]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a CPU for executing various processes according to a program stored in advance; a reproducing unit for reproducing audio information read from an information recording medium; To a headphone that is connected via a lead wire and outputs audio information reproduced by the reproducing means, a remote controller provided in the middle of the lead wire, and detects an operation of the remote controller to at least reproduce the information recording medium. Detecting means for detecting command and CPU cannot execute program
In this state, a command to reproduce the information recording medium is issued by the detecting means.
And a power supply unit for supplying power required for reproducing the information recording medium to the reproduction unit when detected .

[0007] The remote controller may be provided with an LCD for displaying various information.

[0008] The information recording medium is a disk-shaped recording medium on which music information is recorded, and the reproducing means uses the power supplied from the power supply means to reproduce music based on the information read from the information recording medium. Can be played.

[0009] The power supply means may supply power from a battery to the reproduction means.

In the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the CPU
When a command to reproduce the information recording medium is detected by the operation of the remote controller of the headphones connected via the lead wire in a state where the program cannot be executed, the power required for reproducing the information recording medium is supplied. Is done.

[0011]

1 to 3 show an external configuration of a portable personal computer to which the present invention is applied. As shown in these drawings, the portable personal computer 1 includes a main body 2 and an opening / closing section 11 that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 2. On the upper surface of the main body 2, there are provided keys 3 operated when inputting characters, symbols, and the like, and a touch pad 4 operated when moving a cursor or performing a confirmation process. A CD-ROM drive 5 is provided on a right side surface of the main body 2. Insert the tray 6 of this CD-ROM drive 5 into the main body 2
, And the CD-ROM 7 can be mounted (FIG. 2). A jack 8 is provided on the left side surface of the main body 2 (FIG. 3), so that a plug 36 (FIG. 3) constituting the headphone system can be connected. Also, behind the upper surface of the main body 2,
Speakers 9L and 9R are arranged on the left and right sides.

An LCD 12 is provided in front of the opening / closing section 11, and predetermined characters and images are displayed thereon.

FIG. 4 shows a more detailed configuration of the headphone system. In this headphone system, a plug 33 is connected to a jack 34 of the remote controller 31. Left and right headphones 31L, 31R are connected to the plug 33 via leads 35.

A plug 36 is connected to a case 41 of the remote controller 31 via a lead 37. On the upper surface of the case 41, an LC displaying various information is provided.
D42, a PLAY key 46 operated when instructing playback,
In addition to the STOP key 45 operated when commanding a stop, the DSP
A key 47 is provided.

Further, on the side surface of the case 41, in addition to an FF key 43 operated to instruct a high-speed fast-forward operation and a REW key 44 operated to instruct a high-speed rewind operation,
A hold switch 48 is provided.

FIG. 5 shows a portable personal computer 1.
Of FIG. The CPU 61 executes various processes according to a program stored in the ROM 62. The RAM 63 and the hard disk 60 appropriately store data and programs necessary for the CPU 61 to execute various processes. I / O interface 65
Changes the data input from the CPU 61 via the bus 64 to L
The data is output to the CD 12 and displayed. The interface 65 also controls the power supply circuit 73 and controls the supply of power from a power supply circuit 74 having a battery 75 to each unit.

The interface 65 detects an input from the touch pad 4 and outputs the input to the CPU 61 via the bus 64. Similarly, when any one of the keys 3 is operated, the interface 65 outputs a signal corresponding to the operated key to the CPU 61 via the bus 64. A predetermined key among the keys 3 is a dedicated key 7 operated when playing a CD in the suspend mode by assigning a function to the key.
1, or a suspend mode cancel key 72 operated when canceling the suspend mode.

The interface 65 also has a built-in switch monitoring circuit 66, and a dedicated key 71 of the keys 3.
And the detection signal of the detection circuit 70 is monitored. When the plug 36 is connected to the jack 8, the detection circuit 70 detects this, and outputs a detection signal to the switch monitoring circuit 66. In the suspend mode, when the dedicated key 71 is operated or a detection signal is input from the detection circuit 70, the switch monitoring circuit 66
An interrupt signal is output to the CPU 61 via the CPU. The modem 69 is connected to the CP via the interface 65.
It is controlled by U61 and sends and receives data via a telephone line.

The CD-ROM controller 67 controls the CD-ROM drive 5 and reproduces the CD-ROM 7 in response to a command input from the CPU 61. The data obtained as a result of the reproduction is output from the CD-ROM controller 57 to the CPU 61 via the bus 64.

When a CD on which ordinary music data and the like are recorded is reproduced by the CD-ROM drive 5, the reproduced data is output to the audio circuit 68 and subjected to demodulation processing, error correction processing and the like. After that, the speakers 9L, 9
The signal is supplied to the headphones R and the headphones 31L and 31R via the jack 8.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
A process for setting the suspend mode in the portable personal computer 1 will be described. First, in step S1, the user determines whether or not a file on the network is being used via the modem 69. If yes, go to step S2,
For example, processing for saving the file on the hard disk 60 is executed. When the suspend mode is set, the connection to the network may be released. Therefore, even if the file is released, the file can be used when the suspend mode is released. If a file on the network is not used, the process of step S2 is skipped.

Next, proceeding to step S3, the user commands and inputs a suspend mode. This input is key 3
The operation is performed by operating a predetermined key. For example, in Windows 95 (trademark), this is performed by clicking a "start" button and selecting a "suspend" command from a pull-down menu displayed. The selection in this case is to operate the touch pad 4 and
Done through the cursor.

When the input of the suspend mode is performed, the CPU 61 sets the suspend mode in step S4. In this suspend mode, the CPU 6
1 controls the power supply circuit 73 via the interface 65 and stops the supply of power to each unit. At this time, the CPU 61 is also stopped. This allows, for example, LC
Nothing is displayed on D12 and the modem 6
9. The CD-ROM drive 5 becomes unusable. The operation of the key 3 except for the dedicated key 71 and the suspend mode release key 72 and the operation of the touch pad 4 are also not accepted by the CPU 61. Of course, at this time, the CPU 61 cannot execute various application programs such as a word processor and a game.

As described above, when the suspend mode is released in the state where the suspend mode is set, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is executed.

That is, first, in step S11, the user operates the suspend mode release key 72 of the keys 3. When this operation is notified to the CPU 61 via the interface 65, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S
At 12, the execution is resumed and the suspend mode set up to that point is released. At this time, the CPU 61
Controls the power supply circuit 73 via the interface 65 and supplies necessary power to each unit. As a result, all parts of the portable personal computer 1 become operable. Thus, the user can play a word processor or a game or access a predetermined server from the Internet via the modem 69. Of course, you can also play CD-ROMs.

Next, in the suspend mode,
The process for playing a CD will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. When playing back a CD in the suspend mode, the user operates a dedicated key 71 for instructing a CD drive operation among the keys 3 in step S21. When the dedicated key 71 is operated, the switch monitoring circuit 66 detects this. Alternatively,
When the plug 36 is connected to the jack 8, the detection circuit 70
Detects this, and outputs a detection signal to the switch monitoring circuit 66. In any case, the switch monitoring circuit 66 outputs an interrupt signal to the CPU 61 in step S22. At this time, the CPU 61 restarts the execution in step S23 in response to the interrupt signal.

Then, in step S24, the CPU 61 selects one of the components of the portable personal computer 1
Supply power only to the parts needed to play the CD.
That is, the CPU 61 controls the power supply circuit 73 via the interface 65, and controls the CD-ROM controller 67
-Supply power to the ROM drive 5 and the audio circuit 68. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S25, in which the CPU 61 stops executing and enters the low power consumption mode.

Next, the process proceeds to step S26, where the CPU 61
Waits in the low power consumption mode while stopping execution until a predetermined one of various keys provided on the remote controller 31 is operated. When a predetermined key of the remote controller 31 is operated, the operation signal is supplied to the switch monitoring circuit 66 via the plug 36, the jack 8, and the detection circuit 70. When the operation signal is input, the switch monitoring circuit 66 proceeds to step S27.
An interrupt signal is output to the CPU 61. At this time, in step S28, the CPU 61 resumes the execution.

Next, the CPU 61 proceeds to step S29,
It is determined whether the operated key is the STOP key 45 for instructing the end of the reproduction of the CD. If the operated key is not the STOP key 45, the process proceeds to step S30, and a process corresponding to the operated key is executed.

For example, when the PLAY key 46 is operated, the CPU 61 requests the CD-ROM controller 67 via the bus 64 to play a CD. CD-ROM controller 67
Receives the request from the CPU 61, controls the CD-ROM drive 5 to reproduce the CD. The signal reproduced from the CD is output to the audio circuit 68, subjected to demodulation processing, error correction processing, and the like, and then output from the speakers 9L and 9R. Alternatively, the reproduced signal output from the audio circuit 68 is output from the headphones 31L and 31R via the jack 8, the plug 36, and the remote controller 31.

Thereafter, the flow returns to step S25, and the CPU 61
Stops execution, and waits for the next key operation in step S26.

If it is determined in step S29 that the operated key is the STOP key 45, the process proceeds to step S3.
Proceeding to step 1, the CPU 61 sets the CD-ROM controller 67 and the CD-RO
The supply of power to the M drive 5 and the audio circuit 68 is stopped. That is, in step S24, the supply of power to the circuit to which power has been supplied is stopped again.

As described above, in this embodiment, in a state where the suspend mode is set, power is supplied only to a part necessary for reproducing a CD. This makes it possible to reduce power consumption during CD playback as compared with the case where the power is supplied to all parts of the portable personal computer 1 to play the CD. Also CD
Even during the reproduction, the CPU 61 is set to the execution stopped state, so that the power consumption by the CPU 61 (the power consumption by the CPU 61 occupies about の of the entire power consumption of the portable personal computer 1) is reduced. be able to.
As a result, it is possible to supply power from the battery 75 to each unit for a longer time.

In the above embodiment, the dedicated key 71 for instructing the reproduction of a CD in the suspend mode is provided in the key 3. However, various keys of the remote controller 31 are provided. When a special key is operated, it is used as a switch monitoring circuit 6
It is also possible to detect at 6 and play the CD.

In the above embodiment, the case where a CD is reproduced has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a case where an information recording medium other than a CD is reproduced. Further, the present invention can be applied to a portable information processing device other than a portable personal computer.

The program for executing the above-described various processes is recorded on a recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a CD-ROM disk and provided to a user or transmitted via a network. It may be provided. The provided program will be installed in RAM if necessary.
63 and the hard disk 60 and can be stored.

[0037]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the CPU cannot execute the program.
Therefore, when reproduction of the information recording medium is instructed by the operation of the remote controller of the headphones connected via the lead wire, the power required for reproducing the information recording medium is supplied, so that the power consumption is suppressed. Thus, a long-time reproduction can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a portable personal computer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a portable personal computer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a portable personal computer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a headphone system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the portable personal computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process when setting the suspend mode of the portable personal computer of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of canceling a suspend mode of the portable personal computer of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a CD playback process in the suspend mode of the portable personal computer of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 shows a conventional portable personal computer.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a display during CD playback.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 portable personal computer, 5 CD-ROM drive, 7 CD-ROM, 12 LCD, 31 remote controller, 32L, 32R headphones, 61
CPU, 66 switch monitoring circuit, 67 CD-ROM controller, 68 audio circuit, 70 detection circuit,
71 Dedicated key, 72 Suspend mode release key, 73 Power supply circuit, 74 Power supply circuit, 75
Battery

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 1/26-1/32 G11B 19/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. According to a program stored in advance
A CPU that executes various types of processing, and a playback device that plays back audio information read from the information recording medium.
A step, connected to the reproducing means via a lead wire,
Output the audio information played by the stepheadphone
A remote controller provided in the middle of the lead wire
Detecting the operation of the remote controller, at least
Detecting means for detecting a command to reproduce the information recording medium;A state where the CPU cannot execute a program
The detection means detects a finger for reproducing the information recording medium.
When an order is detected, The information recording medium to the reproducing means
Power supply means for supplying power necessary for the regeneration of
An information processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller includes an LCD for displaying various information. 3. The information recording medium is a disk-shaped recording medium on which music information is recorded, and the reproducing unit reads out from the information recording medium using power supplied from the power supply unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein music is reproduced based on the information. 4. The power supply means supplies power from a battery to the reproduction means.
An information processing apparatus according to claim 1.