JPH02121014A - Computer equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a trouble due to dew condensation beforehand by making it impossible to use a computer under a dew condensation state by controlling power supply so as to stop in response to the dew condensation state. CONSTITUTION:A dew condensation sensor 12 to detect the dew condensation state is provided, and a power supply circuit 15 is controlled according to the detected result of the dew condensation sensor 12, and in the dew condensation state, either the power supply to a computer circuit 16 from the power supply circuit 15 is stopped or the power supply to some parts of functional circuits from the power circuit 15 is stopped. Accordingly, in the dew condensation state, the use of the computer device or the use of an apparatus to be influenced by the dew condensation such as, for instance, a hard disk device, etc. becomes impossible. Thus, the trouble due to the dew condensation can be prevented beforehand.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a computer device suitable for protection against dew condensation.

(Prior Art) In recent years, in computer devices such as portable personal computers and large computer systems,
With advances in performance and density, the damage caused by failures has become enormous.

In particular, damage caused by condensation, although it is difficult to detect condensation, can cause not only equipment malfunctions but also damage to storage devices.
The damage is often severe.

That is, for example, in the case of a portable personal computer, since it is portable, it is quite possible to move it from a low-temperature environment such as outdoors in winter to a high-temperature environment with heating. Condensation occurs in such cases, but if the device is used in such a condensed state, water droplets adhering to each element of the electronic circuit may cause malfunctions, or, for example, in a hard disk drive, which is one of the peripheral devices, the disk Water droplets adhering to the surface will cause contact between the magnetic head and the disk, resulting in damage.

This type of condensation can occur not only in portable personal computers but in all computer equipment, and because no measures have been taken to prevent condensation, it is difficult to avoid condensation under the conditions described above. There were drawbacks that caused problems.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, conventional computer devices have the disadvantage that users can use them even in dew condensation without noticing, resulting in troubles due to dew condensation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a computer device that cannot be used in a dew-condensed state and can prevent problems caused by dew condensation.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) That is, the computer device according to the present invention includes a dew condensation sensor that detects a dew condensation state, controls a power supply circuit according to the detection result of the dew condensation sensor, and prevents dew condensation. In this case, the power supply circuit must stop supplying power to the computer circuit, or
Alternatively, the power supply circuit may stop supplying power to some functional circuits of the computer circuit.

(Function) According to the above configuration, in a dew condensation state, it is impossible to use a computer device or use a device affected by dew condensation, such as a hard disk device. Therefore, troubles due to dew condensation can be prevented.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, a computer device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration.
Reference numeral 1 indicates a computer device such as a portable personal computer.

This computer device 11 is provided with a dew condensation sensor 12 for detecting a dew condensation state. The dew condensation sensor 12 is comprised of an element that becomes conductive when water droplets adhere to it, for example, and detects the state of dew condensation around the computer device 11 . Note that a plurality of dew condensation sensors 12 may be provided inside and outside the computer device 11.

The control circuit 13 inputs the detection signal from the dew condensation sensor 2 and controls the power supply circuit 15 to perform dew condensation protection control. This control circuit 13 is driven by power from an external power supply device 14 such as an AC adapter.

The power supply circuit 15 supplies power at a necessary voltage level to each of the various functional circuits configured within the computer circuit 16. The computer circuit 16 is for controlling various functions, including a functional circuit for driving peripheral devices such as a hard disk device, and all functions except for the control circuit 13 and the power supply circuit 15. The circuit is configured.

The display 17 displays the dew condensation state of the computer device 11 under the control of the control circuit 13 .

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The dew condensation sensor 2 constantly monitors the dew condensation state of the computer device 11. Here, when the dew condensation state is detected by the dew condensation sensor 12, a detection signal indicating this is given to the control circuit 13. When the control circuit 13 receives this detection signal, it determines that the computer device 11 is in a dew condensation state, and controls the power supply circuit 15 to execute dew condensation protection control.

That is, in the dew condensation state, the control circuit 13 supplies power from the power supply circuit 15 to the computer circuit 16, or some functional circuits of the computer circuit 16, such as a functional circuit for driving a hard disk device that is one of the peripheral devices. The power supply from the power supply circuit 15 is stopped. Also, at this time, the control circuit 13 indicates through the display 17 that the computer device 11 is in a dew condensation state, such as by displaying a message or lighting a lamp.

As described above, in a condensation state, the power supply to the computer circuit 16 or to some functional circuits of the computer circuit 16 is cut off, so that the use of the computer device 11 or, for example, the pigeon disk device, etc., which is affected by the condensation, is interrupted. Equipment becomes unusable. Therefore, it is possible to prevent problems such as malfunction of the device or damage to the magnetic head or disk in the hard disk device in the case of dew condensation.

Further, after this, when the condensation disappears, the power supply circuit 15 is restored through the control circuit 13, and at the same time, the display on the display 17 is also canceled, making it possible to use the computer device 11 including the peripheral devices of the hard disk device.

In this way, under condensation conditions, the computer circuit 16
By stopping the power supply from the power supply circuit 15 to the electronic circuit, it is possible to prevent problems such as malfunction of the device caused by, for example, water droplets adhering to the electronic circuit. In addition, by stopping the power supply from the power supply circuit 15 to some functional circuits in the computer circuit 16 in a dew condensation state, for example, in a hard disk drive, contact between the magnetic head and the disk caused by water droplets adhering to the disk surface can be avoided. Irreversible equipment failures such as damage can be prevented.

Note that since the control circuit 13 must operate even in a dew condensation state, it is necessary to take measures to prevent dew condensation, such as coating it with resin or the like.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the external power supply device 14 and the power supply circuit 15 are provided independently assuming a computer device that uses an AC adapter, but in a computer device that does not use an AC adapter, the external power supply device 14 and Power supply circuit 15
It suffices to use a power supply circuit having a pair of .

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the power supply is controlled to stop depending on the dew condensation state, use in the dew condensation state is disabled, and troubles due to dew condensation can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 11... Computer device, 12... Condensation sensor,
13... Control circuit, 14... External power supply device, 15.
...Power supply circuit, 16...Computer circuit, 17...
·display. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A computer circuit including a plurality of functional circuits, a power supply circuit for supplying power necessary to the computer circuit, a dew condensation detection means for detecting a condensation state, and a detection result of the dew condensation detection means. condensation protection control that controls the power supply circuit accordingly, and in the case of condensation, stops the power supply of the power supply circuit to the computer circuit, or stops the power supply of the power supply circuit to some functional circuits of the computer circuit; A computer device characterized by comprising means.