JPH04304513A - Computer peripheral equipment and power source system and operating method for the equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease a time required for start as much as possible at the time of successively starting plural computer peripheral equipments 11-13 in a constant sequence, through which starting currents larger than those at the time of a stationary operation are running at the time of the start, and to which the time required for the start is fixed. CONSTITUTION:Each equipment 11-13 is equipped with timer devices 21-23, time TS1-TS3 required for starting the equipments 11-13 corresponding to each timer device 21-23 is set. A power source is supplied from a direct current power source 10 to the first equipment 11 so as to be started, and the clock operation of the timer device 21 is started. The power source supply to the second equipment 12 is turned on by a timer output generated from the timer device 21 after the lapse of the time TS1, and the operation of the timer device 22 is started. Thus, each equipment is successively started each after the lapse of the required minimum time for starting each equipment.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer peripheral device, a power supply system and method therefor, and a timer device provided in the computer peripheral device.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows an example of a conventional power supply system for computer peripherals.

Hard disk drive devices 71-73 are shown as examples of computer peripheral equipment. Operating power is supplied to these hard disk drive devices 71 to 73 from a DC power supply 70. The DC power supply device 70 converts input AC commercial power into DC power having an appropriate voltage and outputs the converted DC power, and has a built-in sequence timer 79.

[0004] A hard disk drive device requires a larger starting current when starting up than during normal operation. Moreover, the time required to start up the hard disk drive device is quite long (for example, about 20 seconds).

[0005] Each hard disk drive device 71 to 7
3 is provided with power switches SW1, SW2, and SW3, respectively, and power supplied from the DC power supply device 70 is applied to each device 71-73 when these switches SW1-SW3 are turned on. Switch SW1~S
Signals C1 to C3 for controlling W3 are supplied to the DC power supply device 7.
0 from sequence timer 79.

As described above, a large starting current flows when the hard disk drive devices 71 to 73 are started, so the power supply capacity of the power supply device 70 is insufficient to start these devices 71 to 73 at the same time. Therefore, these devices 7
1 to 73 are activated one by one in the order of devices 71, 72 and 73 under the control of sequence timer 79.

FIG. 7 shows a hard disk drive device 71.
This shows the timing at the time of startup of ~73.

Hard disk drive devices 71, 72
and 73 respectively.
, TS2, TS3. These times are generally different, but two or three of them may be the same. In any case, these times TS1, T
The time T (T>TS1,
TS2, TS3) are set in the sequence timer 79 of the DC power supply 70.

First, the sequence timer 79 outputs a control signal C1 and the switch SW1 of the device 71 is turned on, thereby supplying the DC power D1 to the device 71 and starting the device 71.

The sequence timer 79 starts counting the above-mentioned set time T from the time when the control signal C1 is output. Then, when a time T has elapsed from the time when the control signal C1 was output, the control signal C2 is outputted to start the next device 72. After outputting this control signal C2, when time T has elapsed again, a control signal C3 is outputted, and the device 7
3 is activated. In this way, a plurality of devices 71~
73 are sequentially activated at each time T.

[0011]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In such a conventional power supply system, computer peripheral devices are sequentially activated at set time intervals longer than the maximum time required to start up multiple computer peripheral devices. It takes a very long time for all devices to finish starting up. In addition, if a new device appears that requires a longer time than the above setting time to start up, as long as the above setting time set in the sequence timer of the DC power supply is fixed, the above new device will be activated. The device cannot be started.

[0012] An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reduce the time required to start up all of a plurality of computer peripheral devices as much as possible.

[0013]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the power supply system according to the present invention, a larger starting current flows at startup than during steady operation, and the time required for startup is fixed, and a plurality of devices are started up one after another in a fixed order. A power supply device for supplying operating power to the plurality of devices listed above, which is installed corresponding to each device listed above, is set for a time corresponding to the time required to start up the corresponding device, and is set at the same time as the power of the corresponding device is turned on. The device is equipped with a plurality of timers to be started, and a control means for controlling to turn on the power of the subsequent device to be started next in response to the output of the timer corresponding to the previous device.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned timer and control means are provided in each device, and the timer output of the preceding device is given to the control means of the subsequent device.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the timer is provided in each device, and the control means is provided in the power supply device.

[0016] If the capacity of the power supply device is larger than the sum of the starting currents of the required number of devices among the plurality of devices, the timer corresponding to the last stage device of the required number of devices A time corresponding to the maximum time required to start up several devices is set, and a zero time is set in the timers corresponding to the other devices. As a result, the above-mentioned required number of devices are activated simultaneously.

Alternatively, if the capacity of the power supply device is greater than the sum of starting currents of a required number of devices among the plurality of devices, one timer is shared by the required number of devices. Then, a time corresponding to the maximum time required to start up the required number of devices is set in the timer, and the required number of devices are activated simultaneously by the control means.

[0018] The operating method of the power supply system according to the present invention is for supplying operating power to a plurality of devices in which a larger starting current flows during startup than during steady operation and for which the time required for startup is determined, and to the plurality of devices described above. In a power supply system equipped with a power supply device, the startup order is determined so that the multiple devices listed above are started up in a certain order, a timer is provided corresponding to each of the devices listed above, and the device corresponding to each timer is started. Set the time corresponding to the time required for the first step, and start the timing operation at the same time as the corresponding device is powered on. First, turn on the power to the first device, and then start the timer output corresponding to the first step device. In response to this, the device in the subsequent stage that should be activated next is turned on.

[0019] If the capacity of the power supply device is larger than the sum of the starting currents of the required number of devices among the plurality of devices, the timer corresponding to the last stage device in the required number of devices is Set the time corresponding to the maximum time required to start up several devices, and set the timers corresponding to other devices to zero. As a result, the above-mentioned required number of devices are activated simultaneously.

Alternatively, if the capacity of the power supply device is larger than the sum of starting currents of a required number of devices among the plurality of devices, one timer is shared by the required number of devices. Then, a time corresponding to the maximum time required to start up the required number of devices is set in this timer, and the required number of devices are started up at the same time.

[0021] The time equivalent to the time required to start up the computer peripheral equipment is a time equal to the time required to start up the computer peripheral equipment, or a time obtained by adding an allowable time or an error time to this time.

The present invention provides a computer peripheral device in which a larger starting current flows during startup than during normal operation, and the time required for startup is fixed. This computer peripheral device is provided between a power input terminal and a power output terminal, and has a power supply gate circuit that is turned on by a power-on control signal, and a time period corresponding to the time required to start up the computer peripheral device. The variable timer circuit is capable of starting a time measurement operation in response to input of the power-on control signal.

The computer peripheral device further includes a changeover switch that selects either the power supplied to the power input terminal or the power-on control signal, and the output of the changeover switch is connected to the power supply gate circuit and the power supply gate circuit. given to the variable timer circuit.

In an embodiment of the computer peripheral device according to the present invention, a plurality of power output terminals are provided on the output side of the power supply gate circuit.

Furthermore, an output terminal is provided for outputting the output signal of the timer circuit as a power-on control signal.

[0026] In the computer peripheral device according to the present invention, in which a larger starting current flows during startup than during normal operation and the time required for startup is fixed, the time corresponding to the time required for startup of the computer peripheral device can be set. It also includes a variable timer circuit that starts timing operation in response to the input of the operating power supply.

The present invention provides a timer device for computer peripherals. This timer device is installed between the power input terminal and the power output terminal, and can be set to a time corresponding to the time required to start up the power supply gate circuit and computer peripherals that are turned on by the power-on control signal. The device also includes a variable timer circuit that starts a timing operation in response to input of the power-on control signal.

The timer device is provided with an output terminal for outputting the output signal of the variable timer circuit as a power-on control signal.

[0029]

[Operation] A variable timer device provided corresponding to a plurality of computer peripheral devices (or general devices) is set with a time corresponding to the time required to start up the corresponding computer peripheral device.

[0030] First, the power is turned on to the first computer peripheral device, this device is activated, and the timer device corresponding to the device starts measuring time. When the timer device corresponding to this activated computer peripheral device finishes timing the time set in it and generates an output signal, this timer output turns on the power to the next computer peripheral device to be activated. With,
The timer device of this device starts timing operation.

In this way, each time a timer output is generated from a timer device corresponding to each computer peripheral device,
The subsequent computer peripherals will be activated in sequence.

[0032]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, a timer device is provided corresponding to each computer peripheral device (or general device), and each timer device has a timer device corresponding to the time required to start up the corresponding computer peripheral device. The time is set, and the computer peripherals at the subsequent stage are activated in sequence according to the timer output of each timer device, so the computer peripherals are activated in sequence after each minimum necessary amount of time has elapsed, and multiple computer peripherals Minimize the time it takes to start everything up.

By making the timer device a variable timer that can set any time, it becomes possible to apply the timer device to all computer peripheral devices by preparing timer devices with the same structure.

Furthermore, by setting the time to zero in the variable timer device, it becomes possible to start up two or more computer peripheral devices at the same time. This is particularly effective when the capacity of the power supply is large.

[0035]

[Example] Figure 1 shows a plurality of computer peripheral devices 11.
13 and a DC power supply device 10 that supplies operating power to these.
It shows a power supply system consisting of. An example of a computer peripheral is a hard disk drive device. The computer peripheral devices 11-13 will be simply referred to as devices 11-13 hereinafter.

The DC power supply device 10 converts a commercial AC power into a DC power of a predetermined voltage and outputs the DC power.

Each of the devices 11 to 13 has a timer device 21.
~23. The timer device 21 has a power input terminal A1, a power output terminal B1, a control input terminal CIN1,
and a control output terminal COUT1. Timer device 2
2 and 23 are also provided with exactly the same terminals, and the terminals in these timers are represented by adding suffixes 2 and 3 to A, B, CIN, and COUT, respectively.

The timer devices 21 to 23 have exactly the same configuration. A specific example of its configuration is shown in FIG.

The timer device includes a power supply gate 31 provided between a power input terminal A and a power output terminal B, a variable timer 32 that provides a timer output to a control output terminal COUT,
In addition, a power supply (or a signal obtained by converting this DC power supply to an appropriate voltage) (terminal a) supplied to the power input terminal A and a control input signal supplied to the control input terminal CIN (terminal b
), and supplies the selected one to the power supply gate 31 as a gate control signal and to the variable timer 32 as a start signal, respectively.

The selector switch 33 is a manually operated switch, and is normally set to select the control input signal input to terminal b. However, only the timer device 21 provided in the first-stage device 11 is set to select the power source input to the terminal a.

[0041] The variable timer 32 can have an arbitrary preset time.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the devices 11, 12, and 13 are activated in this order.
The time required to start 3 is TS1 and TS2, respectively.
, TS3.

The time TS1 is stored in the variable timer 32 of the timer device 21 provided in the device 11, the time TS2 is stored in the variable timer 32 of the timer device 22 provided in the device 12, and the time TS2 is stored in the variable timer 32 of the timer device 21 provided in the device 13. A time TS3 is set in each of the variable timers 32. The setting times set for these timer devices are T to ensure a margin.
Each of the times may be slightly longer than S1, TS2, and TS3.

The control input terminal CIN1 of the timer device 21 of the device 11 is open. Timer device 21 of device 11
The control output terminal COUT1 is the timer device 22 of the device 12.
is connected to the control input terminal CIN2 of. Similarly, the control output terminal COUT2 of the timer device 22 of the device 12
is connected to the control input terminal CIN3 of the timer device 23 of the device 13. The control output terminal COUT3 of the timer device 23 of the device 13 is open.

[0045] Timer device 21 of these devices 11 to 13
The DC power supply device 10 is connected to the power input terminals A1 to A3 of ~23.
DC power is supplied from the Furthermore, when the power supply gates 31 are turned on, DC power supplies D1 to D3 are outputted from the power output terminals B1 to B3 of these timer devices 21 to 23, and
3, respectively.

The operation of such a power supply system is shown in FIG.

When DC power is output from the DC power supply device 10, this DC power is applied to the timer devices 2 of each device 11 to 13.
The power input terminals A1 to A3 are respectively supplied to power supply input terminals A1 to A3. In the timer device 21 of the device 11, the changeover switch 33 is connected to the terminal a, so the DC power applied to the terminal A1 is applied to the power supply gate 31 via this changeover switch 33, and this gate is opened. , DC power D1 is supplied to the device 11, and the device 11 is started. At the same time, the DC power at the terminal A1 is applied to the variable timer 32, so that the variable timer 32 starts timing operation.

Since the changeover switch 33 of the other devices 12 and 13 is connected to terminal b, these devices 1
2 and 13 are never activated, and their variable timers also do not start operating.

[0049] After this, when time TS1 has elapsed, device 1
The startup operation in step 1 is completed, and the device 11 enters steady operation, and its current consumption decreases. At the same time, a timer output is generated from the variable timer 32 of the timer device 21. This timer output is input to the control input terminal CIN2 of the timer device 22 of the device 12 via the control output terminal COUT1.

The timer output applied to the control input terminal CIN2 is applied to the power supply gate 31 in the timer device 22 of the device 12 via the changeover switch 33 connected to the terminal b, and is also input to the variable timer 32. As a result, the power supply gate 31 is turned on, and the power supply D2 is applied to the device 12 to start it up. Further, the variable timer 32 of the timer device 22 starts timing operation.

Thereafter, when the time TS2 has elapsed, a timer output is generated from the variable timer 32 of the timer device 22, and the equipment 13 is activated in the same way.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, three devices are provided, but even if three or more devices are provided, they operate in exactly the same way.

[0053] When the starting current of the equipment is smaller than the power supply capacity, that is, when the DC power supply 10 has the capacity to start multiple equipment at the same time, the last stage of the equipment to be started at the same time. These devices can be started at the same time by setting zero as the setting time in the variable timer except for can.

For example, if the DC power supply 10 is capable of supplying a current larger than the sum of the starting current of the device 11 and the starting current of the device 12, if TS1>TS2, the variable timer of the timer device 21 Set time zero to 32,
The set time TS1 may be set in each of the variable timers 32 of the timer device 22. Variable timer 3 of timer device 21
2, a timer output is generated simultaneously with the start and given to the timer device 22, so that devices 11 and 21 are activated at the same time. Then, after this activation, when time TS1 has elapsed, a timer output is generated from the timer device 22 and given to the timer device 23 of the device 13, so that the device 13 is activated.

Alternatively, the timer device having the configuration shown in FIG. 3 may be provided in the device 11, and the timer device 22 in the device 12 may be omitted. In the timer device shown in FIG. 3, two power output terminals Bi and Bj are provided on the output side of the power supply gate 31. A manual switch 34 is provided at the output terminal Bj. The output of the output terminal Bi is sent to the device 11, and the output of the output terminal Bj
The outputs are given to each device 12, and the switch 34 is turned on. A time TS1 is set in the variable timer 32. When such a timer device is used, two timer devices can be used with one timer device.
Two devices can be started at the same time. By increasing the number of power output terminals, three or more devices can be activated simultaneously.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment.

[0057] A variable timer 51 is installed in a plurality of devices 41 to 43.
53 are provided, respectively. These variable timers 51 to 53 have a time TS1 required for starting the corresponding equipment.
~TS3 are set respectively. Further, these variable timers 51 to 53 are activated by the DC power input to the corresponding equipment.

The DC power supply device 60 includes power supply switches 61 to 63 for controlling power supply to each device 41 to 43;
A sequence controller 69 is provided. The power supply switches 61 to 63 are controlled by a sequence controller 69 based on timer outputs CS1 to CS3 of variable timers of the preceding equipment.

First, the power supply switch 61 is turned on, power is supplied to the device 41, the device 41 is activated, and the variable timer 51 of the device 41 starts measuring time.

When timer output CS1 is generated from variable timer 51 after time TS1 has elapsed, this signal CS1 is applied to sequence controller 69, and power supply switch 62 is turned on. As a result, the device 42 is activated and its variable timer 52 starts timing operation.

[0061] In the manner described above, power is sequentially supplied to the subsequent devices and they are activated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a power supply system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of a timer device.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing another example of a timer device.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a conventional power supply system.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing the operation of a conventional power supply system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 60 DC power supply device 11, 12, 13, 41, 42, 43 Computer peripheral equipment 21, 22, 23 Timer device 31 Power supply gate 32, 51, 52, 53 Variable timer 33 Changeover switch

Claims (15)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A device in which a larger starting current flows during startup than during steady operation, and the time required for startup is determined, and a plurality of devices are sequentially started in a fixed order, and for supplying operating power to the plurality of devices mentioned above. a power supply device, multiple timers that are set corresponding to the time required to start up the corresponding equipment and are started at the same time as the power is turned on for the corresponding equipment, which are installed corresponding to each of the above equipment, and equipment in the previous stage A power supply system equipped with a control means that controls to turn on the power of the subsequent equipment to be started next in response to the output of the timer corresponding to the timer. 2. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the timer and control means are provided in each device, and the timer output of the preceding device is provided to the control means of the subsequent device. 3. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the timer is provided in each device, and the control means is provided in the power supply device. 4. When the capacity of the power supply device is larger than the sum of starting currents of the required number of devices among the plurality of devices, the timer corresponding to the last stage device in the required number of devices is set to The power supply according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a time corresponding to a maximum time required for starting up a required number of devices is set, and a time of zero is set in a timer corresponding to other devices. system. 5. When the capacity of the power supply device is larger than the sum of starting currents of the required number of devices among the plurality of devices, one timer is shared by the required number of devices, and the timer Claims 1 to 3, wherein a time corresponding to a maximum time required to start up the required number of devices is set, and the required number of devices are activated simultaneously by the control means.
A power supply system according to any one of the following. [Claim 6] A power supply system comprising a plurality of devices in which a larger starting current flows during startup than during steady operation and a time required for startup is determined, and a power supply device for supplying operating power to the plurality of devices. , the startup order is determined so that the multiple devices listed above are started up in a certain order, a timer is provided corresponding to each of the devices listed above, and a time corresponding to the time required to start up the device corresponding to each timer is determined. The timer should be set so that the timekeeping operation starts at the same time as the corresponding device is powered on, and the first device should be powered on, and then activated next in response to the output of the timer corresponding to the previous device. A method of operating a power system that powers up downstream equipment. 7. When the capacity of the power supply device is larger than the sum of the starting currents of the required number of devices among the plurality of devices, the timer corresponding to the last stage device in the required number of devices is set to 7. The method for operating a power supply system according to claim 6, wherein a time corresponding to the maximum time required to start up the required number of devices is set, and timers corresponding to other devices are set to zero time. 8. When the capacity of the power supply device is larger than the sum of the starting currents of the required number of devices among the plurality of devices, one timer is shared by the required number of devices, and the timer 7. The method of operating a power supply system according to claim 6, wherein a time corresponding to a maximum time required to start up the required number of devices is set at , and the required number of devices are started simultaneously. [Claim 9] In a computer peripheral device in which a larger starting current flows during startup than during normal operation and the time required for startup is fixed, the device is provided between a power input terminal and a power output terminal, and is activated by a power-on control signal. It is equipped with a power supply gate circuit that is turned on, and a variable timer circuit that can set a time corresponding to the time required to start up the computer peripheral device and that starts a timing operation in response to the input of the power-on control signal. A computer peripheral device characterized by: 10. Further comprising a changeover switch for selecting either one of the power supply applied to the power supply input terminal and the power-on control signal, the output of the changeover switch being applied to the power supply gate circuit and the variable timer circuit. 10. A computer peripheral as claimed in claim 9, provided. 11. The computer peripheral device according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of power output terminals are provided on the output side of the power supply gate circuit. 12. An output terminal for outputting the output signal of the timer circuit as a power-on control signal is provided,
A computer peripheral according to any one of claims 9 to 11. [Claim 13] In a computer peripheral device in which a larger starting current flows during startup than during normal operation and the time required for startup is fixed, a time corresponding to the time required for startup of the computer peripheral device can be set and the computer peripheral device operates. A computer peripheral device characterized by being equipped with a variable timer circuit that starts timing operation in response to power input. [Claim 14] A power supply gate circuit provided between a power input terminal and a power output terminal, which is turned on by a power-on control signal, and a time corresponding to the time required to start up a computer peripheral device can be set. A timer device for a computer peripheral device, further comprising a variable timer circuit that starts a timing operation in response to input of the power-on control signal. 15. The timer device according to claim 14, further comprising an output terminal for outputting the output signal of the variable timer circuit as a power-on control signal.