JPH03269635A - Personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the breakage of data by attaining a constitution where an extension memory can be pulled out of a power computer even in a power-on mode and the software informs a power unit of the removal of the extension memory after storing the system information in an external storage since the software is ignorant of the removal of the extension memory. CONSTITUTION:When an extension memory is pulled out of a personal computer in a normal power-on state, an extension memory removal detector 3 detects the removal of the extension memory. Then the information included the memory removal processing is stored in an external storage or a back-up memory 6. At the same time, a system store flag is set and a power-off command is issued to a power unit 4. Thus the unit 4 turned off. When the extension memory is inserted again into the computer, a power switch is turned on and a program state secured right before the extension memory is pulled out is restored. Thus it is possible to prevent the breakage of data and the runaway of a program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention (Industrial Objective) This invention relates to a personal computer that supports a resume mode and has an optional additional memory.

(Prior Art) In the field of personal computers, laptop-type personal computers, which are small, lightweight, and convenient to carry, have become popular in place of the conventional desktop type. This type of personal computer has as a standard configuration only the hardware required to realize the minimum necessary functions, and requires an option board to realize other relatively high-class functions. A typical example is an expansion memory board. In addition, many of these types of personal computers are battery-powered, and design efforts are often made to improve operability and save power.

Support for resume mode (instantaneous reproduction function) is one example.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the above-described personal computer with an additional memory, the additional memory can be removed even when the power is on (hot insertion/removal). However, the software has no way of knowing its status, so it continues to operate as if it had additional memory even after it was removed.

Therefore, there have been problems such as destruction of hardware circuits due to hot insertion and removal, destruction of data in additional memories, etc., and even runaway programs.

This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a personal computer with an additional memory with a function to power off in resume mode if the additional memory is removed while the power is on, and to solve the above problem. do.

[Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides an interrupt generation system that detects removal of the additional memory and generates an NMI interrupt in a personal computer that supports a resume function and has an optional additional memory. means, an interrupt processing means that outputs a power-off signal after saving system information to a storage device by receiving the NMI interrupt, a power supply device that cuts off the power by receiving the power-off signal, and a power supply device that turns on the power again. Time,
It is equipped with a processing means for booting the system to check the preservation of system information by referring to the system preservation flag and restore the system, and a storage means in which the system data and the system preservation flag are stored, and when the additional memory is removed. The feature is that when the power is turned off in the resume mode, an additional memory is inserted, and the power is turned on again, the state returns to the state immediately before the extended memory was removed.

(Function) With the above configuration, the power supply unit detects that the additional memory has been removed, issues an NMI interrupt, and uses the interrupt processing program to save the system information to the external storage device or backup memory, and then instructs the power supply to turn off the power. tell to. Then, when the power is turned on again, refer to the system save flag,
If system information was saved, restore the system.

In addition, when the additional memory is removed, the power is turned off in the resume mode, and then the additional memory is inserted, and when the power switch is turned on, the function returns to the program state immediately before the additional memory was removed.

With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent damage to the hardware circuitry caused by removing the extension memory during power-on, as well as damage to data in the extension memory, program runaway, and the like.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a control block (
NMI processing control block) performs various NMI processing, saves system data, issues a power OFF command to the power supply device 4, etc. Reference numeral 2 is a control block (system processing control block) that performs system boot processing, and restores the system if the system data is saved when the power is turned on. Reference numeral 3 denotes an extension memory removal detection device, which issues an extension memory removal NMI interrupt when the extension memory is removed. Reference numeral 4 denotes a power supply device, which turns off the power by receiving a power OFF command. Reference numeral 5 is a system data block, which indicates data of a CPU register, each LSI information, V-RAM, memory, etc. (not shown). Reference numeral 6 is a system save data block, which corresponds to system data and a system save flag, and these data are saved to an external storage device or a backup memory.

2 and 3 are for explaining the operation in the embodiment of the present invention, respectively. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of NMI processing, and FIG. 3 is the operation flow of system boot processing. It is a flowchart which shows.

In Fig. 2, numeral 11 indicates the expansion memory retrieval NMI.
This is a step to check. Reference numeral 12 is a step for saving system information, in which various data of the system are saved in an external storage device or a backup memory. Reference numeral 13 is a step indicating that the system is being saved, and a system save flag is set. Reference numeral 14 is a step for outputting a power OFF command, in which a power OFF command is output to the microprocessor built in the power supply device 4.

Reference numeral 15 is a step for performing other NMI processing, in which NMI processing other than the expansion memory removal NMI is performed.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 21 is a step for checking whether the system is being saved, and here the contents of the system save flag are checked. Reference numeral 22 is a step for restoring system information, in which various data of the system are restored to the system from an external storage device or backup memory. Reference numeral 23 is a step for setting "no system saving", in which the system saving flag is cleared. Reference numeral 24 is a step in which control is transferred to the system, and the stored system information C
Returns the PU register and transfers control to the program counter.

Reference numeral 25 is a step for performing normal system boot processing.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 above.

If an operation is performed to remove the additional memory while the personal computer is normally powered on and used, the additional memory removal detection device 3 detects the removal and issues an additional memory removal NMI. Due to NMI interrupt,
NMI processing is activated and if the additional memory is removed, the system information is saved in the external storage device or backup memory. It also sets a system save flag and then issues a power OFF command to the power supply device 4. The power supply device 4 turns off the power in response to the power OFF command.

Next, when the additional memory is inserted and the power switch is turned on, the system boot process is started. The system boot process restores the system from the external storage device or backup memory 6 if the system save flag is set.

As explained above, if the additional memory is removed while the power is on, the system data is saved and the power is turned off, which prevents hardware circuit damage and program runaway. Furthermore, when the additional memory is inserted again and the power is turned on, the program returns to the state immediately before the additional memory was removed, improving operability.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent destruction of hardware circuits, destruction of data in the expansion memory, etc., and program runaway due to removal of the expansion memory during power-on. We can provide highly reliable personal computers.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are for explaining operations in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an NMI processing procedure. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the system boot processing procedure. 1... NMI processing control block, 2... System processing control block, 3... Expansion memory removal detection device,
4...Power supply device, 5...System data block,
6...External storage device (backup memory).

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a personal computer that supports a resume function and has optional expansion memory, there is an interrupt generation means that detects when the expansion memory is removed and generates an NMI interrupt, and by receiving this NMI interrupt, system information is transferred to the storage device. An interrupt processing means that saves the information and outputs a power-off signal, a power supply that cuts off the power by receiving the power-off signal, and a system restore flag that refers to the system save flag when the power is turned on again to confirm that the system information has been saved. The system is equipped with a processing means for booting the system, and a storage means for storing system data and system save flags, and when the additional memory is removed, the power is turned off in resume mode, and when the additional memory is inserted, the power is turned on again. A personal computer characterized in that it sometimes returns to the state immediately before removing additional memory.