JPH05150872A - Power control method and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a power control method and an electronic device which can perform the power control in accordance with the types of peripheral equipments including an extension substrate, etc. CONSTITUTION:A peripheral equipment 301 is provided with a power control information holding means 306 which holds the power control information to control the power supplied from an information processor 200. Meanwhile the processor 200 is provided with a reader means which reads the power control information held by the equipment 301, a clock control means 214 and a power control means 215, etc., which perform the power control of the equipment 301 based on the read power control information. Thus the power control is carried out to the equipment 301 based on the power control information held by the equipment 301. As a result, the power consumption can be reduced for the peripheral equipments like an extension substrate, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power control method and electronic device for peripheral electronic equipment used by connecting to an electronic device such as an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a word processor, a connector for connecting peripheral equipment such as an expansion board has been prepared so that a function which has not been conventionally provided in the main body of the information processing apparatus can be expanded. There is. FIG. 8 is an example thereof.

In FIG. 1, 201 is a central processing unit (CP).
U), 202 is a bus for exchanging data with the CPU 202 and other parts in the information processing apparatus and an expansion board connected to an expansion connector, 203 is a read only memory (ROM), and 204 is a rewritable memory (RAM). ),
Reference numeral 205 is a display control unit, 206 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, 207 is a floppy control unit, 208 is a floppy desk device, 209 is a keyboard interface, 210 is a keyboard, 211 is an expansion connector for connecting an expansion board or the like, and 212 is A clock generation unit 213 that supplies a clock to the expansion board through the main body of the information processing apparatus 200 and the expansion connector 211 is a power supply unit that supplies power to the expansion board through the main body of the information processing apparatus 200 and the expansion connector 211.

In the information processing apparatus 200 as described above, in order to identify the type of the extension board connected to the extension connector 211, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-6648, the extension board is identified. Some expansion boards have expansion board identification information.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the extension board having the extension board identification information. In this figure, 301 is an expansion board, 302 is a connector for connecting to the main body of the information processing apparatus, 303 is a bus for connecting the connector 302 and each part on the expansion board 301, and 304 is a main function of each expansion board 301. 305 is an extension board 301
Is an extension board identification information holding unit that holds identification information for identifying the type.

The extension board identification information held in the extension board identification information holding section 305 is assigned to each type of extension board 301, and the information processing apparatus main body 200 extends the extension board identification information of the connected extension board 301. The type of the extension board 301 connected can be known by reading from the board identification information holding unit 305 through the extension connector 211.

By the way, in recent years, information processing devices such as personal computers and word processors have become smaller and lighter, and the number of portable type devices that can be carried around has increased. Many of such devices are designed to keep power consumption low in order to drive them for a long time with a limited power source such as a battery. For example, the power consumption is reduced by performing detailed control such as stopping the power supply to a part that is not used for a certain period of time, changing the supplied voltage, lowering the clock frequency, or stopping the supply.

[0008]

However, in the conventional expansion board system, the type of the expansion board 301 is identified and controlled as described above, but power control, clock control, etc. are performed according to the type of the expansion board. Was not there. Therefore, the power consumption of the extension board 301 cannot be suppressed.

Therefore, not only the information processing apparatus main body but also
There has been a demand for a method that enables power saving of the expansion board.

An object of the present invention is to provide a power control method and an electronic device capable of controlling power according to the type of peripheral equipment such as an expansion board to reduce power consumption.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and in one aspect thereof, is an electronic device connected to another device for use. Connection means for connecting to and receiving data from the other device, power receiving means for receiving power supply from the other device, and power control indicating a range of control conditions under which the electronic device can operate. Power control information holding means having information and capable of reading the power control information from the other device via the connecting means, and receiving power supply via the power receiving means, and connecting the connecting means. An electronic device is provided, which has a functional unit that exhibits a predetermined function by being connected to the other device via the electronic device.

The control condition is at least one of a voltage, a clock frequency, and a time until the operating voltage and / or the clock frequency is changed when there is no access from the other device for a predetermined time or longer. It is preferable to include one.

As another aspect, a connection means for connecting another electronic device and exchanging data with the other electronic device, and a power supply means for supplying electric power to the other electronic device. According to power control information reading means for reading power control information indicating an operable control condition range of the electronic equipment from the electronic equipment connected to the connecting means, and power control information read by the power control information reading means. An electronic device is provided, which comprises: a control unit that controls the electronic device.

As another aspect, a connecting means for connecting another electronic device to exchange data, a power supply means for supplying electric power to the other electronic device, and the above-mentioned. Identification information reading means for reading the identification information indicating the type of the electronic device from the electronic device connected to the connecting means, and power control information pre-designating a range of control conditions of the electronic device connectable to the connecting means. Power control information holding means having one or more types, identification means for detecting the type of other electronic equipment connected to the connection means according to the identification information read by the identification information reading means, and detection by the identification means The power control information reading means for reading the power control information corresponding to the electronic device of the type from the power control information holding means, and the power control information reading means for reading the power control information Accordance force control information, the electronic apparatus characterized by a control means for controlling the electronic apparatus is provided.

With regard to the electronic devices of the above-described two aspects, the control means may be clock frequency control means or power supply control means for changing the voltage supplied by the power supply means to the electronic equipment. ..

Further, the power control information reading means may have a notification means for notifying the user of the power control information read by the power control information reading means. Further, it may have a changing unit for changing the power control information read by the power control information reading unit.

Further, the power control information includes power consumption information indicating power consumption of the electronic device, power source capacity storing means having capacity information indicating capacity of the power source of the electronic device itself, and the power control information. An operable time calculating means for calculating an operable time of the electronic device and / or an electronic device connected to the electronic device based on the power consumption information read by the reading means and the capacity information; It may have an operable time informing means for informing the user of the operable time calculated by the operable time calculating means.

As another aspect of the present invention, the power control information indicating the range of control conditions of the other electronic device which the other electronic device has internally is read, and the power of the other electronic device is read according to the power control information. A power control method for controlling is provided.

In still another mode, the identification information indicating the type of the other electronic device inside the other electronic device is read, and the type of the other electronic device is determined based on the read identification information. A power control method for controlling the other electronic device is provided according to a power control method preset according to its type.

[0020]

The electronic device such as the information processing device and the electronic device such as the peripheral device such as the expansion board are connected to each other through the respective connecting means. In this state, the functional means and the like of the electronic device operate by being supplied with power by the power supply means of the electronic device via the power receiving means.

At the start of operation, the power control information reading means of the electronic device reads the power control information from the power control information holding means of the electronic device. The power control information is
The control conditions under which the electronic device can operate normally, such as clock frequency, are shown.

Then, the control means of the electronic device controls the power of the electronic device according to the power control information.

Another aspect will be described.

An electronic device such as an information processing device and an electronic device which is a peripheral device such as an expansion board are connected to each other via respective connecting means. In this state, the functional means and the like of the electronic device operate by being supplied with power by the power supply means of the electronic device via the power receiving means.

At the start of operation, the identification information reading means of the electronic device reads the identification information indicating the type of electronic device.

The identification means detects the type of the electronic device using the read identification information. Based on this result, the power control information reading unit reads the power control information corresponding to the electronic device from the power control information holding unit. The control means controls the power of the electronic device according to the power control information.

[0027]

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described.

In the following description, specific numerical values or the like indicating the specifications of the apparatus may be shown, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this. Also,
Similarly, the detailed configuration of each unit is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of this embodiment.

The information processing device 200, which is an electronic device, is C
A bus 202 for exchanging data with the PU 201, the CPU 201, other parts in the information processing apparatus 200, an expansion board connected to an expansion connector, a read only memory (ROM) 203, and a rewritable memory (RAM) 20.
4, display control unit 205, display device 20 such as a liquid crystal display device
6, floppy control unit 207, floppy desk device 20
8, keyboard interface 209, keyboard 21
0, an expansion connector 211 for connecting an expansion board, a clock controller 214, a power controller 215, and the like.

The CPU 201 has a ROM 203 and a RAM 2
Various functions are realized by executing the programs stored in 04. In this embodiment, the extension board 30
It has a function of reading out the power control information of No. 1 and using it to change the settings of the clock control unit 214 and the power supply control unit 215.

The clock controller 214 of this embodiment has a function of controlling the clock supplied to the expansion board 301 connected to the expansion connector 211.

The power controller 215 also has a function of controlling the electric power supplied to the expansion board connected to the expansion connector 211.

The clock control unit 214 and the power supply control unit 215 are set based on the power control information read from the power control information 306 of the expansion board 301 described later.

The expansion connector 211 is for connecting an expansion board or the like. Expansion connector 211 of this embodiment
Also has a power supply line for supplying power to the extension board.

Since the other parts are the same as the conventional ones,
No particular explanation is given.

The structure of the extension board 301, which is an electronic device connected to the electronic device and used, will be described.

The expansion board 301 is a connector 302 for connecting to the main body of the information processing apparatus 200, a bus 303 for connecting the connector 302 and each part on the expansion board 301, and a main part for fulfilling the main function of each expansion board 301. Thirty
4, an extension board identification information holding unit 305, and a power control information holding unit 306. The extension board 301 of this embodiment does not have an independent power source, and the connector 30
Power is supplied from the information processing device 200 via the device 2.

The power control information holding unit 306 is used for the extension board 3
It holds the power control information of 01. The power control information indicates a range of control conditions (for example, clock frequency) that can normally operate the extension board 301. An example of the power control information is shown in FIG. In this example, the power control information is addresses 1000H to 1002.
It is assigned to H, and the extension board 30 is attached to 1000H.
The frequency of the clock given to 1 is stored. Also,
The magnitude of the voltage applied to the extension substrate 301 is stored in 1001H, and the timeout time is stored in 1002H. It should be noted that the “timeout time” here means that the expansion board 3 is used when the expansion board 301 is not used for a certain time or longer.
In the method of turning off the power supply to 01 to save power consumption, it is the above-mentioned fixed time corresponding to the time from the time of the last access to the turning off of the power supply. However, the power control information is not limited to this.

The extension board identification information holding unit 305 holds identification information for identifying the type of the extension board 301. The details are as described in the above description of the prior art.

Expansion board 301 by the information processing apparatus 200
The control operation outline of is described. The detailed configuration and operation of each unit will be described later.

The CPU 201 outputs an address corresponding to the extension board identification information holding unit 305 in order to identify the type of the extension board 301 connected to the extension connector 211.
The expansion board identification code stored in the expansion board identification information storage unit 305 is read.

When the expansion board 301 of a predetermined type is connected, subsequently, the address corresponding to the power control information holding unit 306 is output, and the power control information stored in the power control information holding unit 306 is output. Read. Then, according to the power information, the clock control unit 214 and the power control unit 21.
5 and the like to control the power of the extension board 301.

Next, the clock control unit 214 of the information processing apparatus 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The clock control section 214 is mainly composed of a clock generator 501, a frequency divider 502 and a selector 503.

The frequency divider 502 starts frequency division of the 32 KHz clock generated by the clock generator 501, and outputs 4,8,1.
It has a function of simultaneously outputting 6,32 KHz clock signals.

The selector 503 has a function of selecting any one of various clock signals output from the frequency divider 502 and supplying it to the expansion connector 211 according to an instruction from the CPU 201.

In this embodiment, the selector 503
Are provided by the number of expansion connectors 211.

The operation of the clock controller 214 will be described.

The clock generator 501 generates a clock having a predetermined frequency (32 KHz in this embodiment). Then, the frequency divider 502 divides this frequency to always obtain 4,
It outputs clock signals of 8, 16, and 32 KHz.
The selector 503 selects and outputs any one of the clock signals of various frequencies according to an instruction given by the CPU 201. As a result, the clock controller 214
Can change the clock frequency given to the expansion board 301 according to the type of the expansion board 301 and the operating condition, and can suppress the power consumption of the expansion board 301.

Next, the power supply controller 215 will be described with reference to FIG.

The power supply control section 215 includes a power supply 601 for supplying electricity of 5V, a voltage converter 602 for converting a voltage of 5V into a voltage of 3V, a selector 603 for selecting a voltage to be supplied to an expansion board, a timer 604, and an expansion. Board access monitoring unit 60
Mainly consists of 5.

The extension board access monitoring unit 605 is the main body 2
00 to monitor the access status of the expansion board 301, and if the expansion board 301 is not accessed for a certain time or more counted by the timer 604, the expansion board 301 is accessed.
It has the function of stopping the power supply to the.

The voltage switching operation will be described.

The selector 603 selects either 5V or 3V as the power supply voltage to be applied to the extension board 301 in accordance with the instruction from the CPU 201.

As a result, the voltage applied to the expansion board 301 is changed according to the type of the expansion board 301.

The power supply stop operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

According to the instruction from the CPU 201, the timer 6
In 04, a predetermined time is set. The predetermined time is determined according to the time-out time of the power control information (see FIG. 2).

After starting the operation of the information processing apparatus 200, the expansion board access monitoring unit 605 monitors the address on the bus 202 and monitors whether the expansion board 301 has been accessed (step 502). Then, the power supply is started only when the access is made (step 50).
3). After that, the expansion board access monitoring unit 605 continues to monitor the access status to the expansion board 301, and determines whether or not there is no access for a certain period of time measured by the timer 603 (step 50).
4). If the expansion board 301 is not accessed for a certain period of time or more, the selector 603 is controlled to stop the power supply to the expansion board 301 (step 505). After this,
Returning to step 502, the same operation is performed.

By performing the control as described above, the power supply voltage supplied to the extension substrate 301 changes as shown in FIG.

By performing the control as described above, when the extension substrate 301 is not used for a certain period or longer, the power supply can be stopped and the power consumption of the extension substrate 301 can be reduced. In addition, since the information processing apparatus 200 collectively controls the power of the expansion board 301 that receives the power supply from the information processing apparatus 200, it is possible to achieve greater flexibility and effective power control.

In the above example, the power control information includes the clock frequency, the voltage, and the timeout time for stopping the power supply when the expansion board is not used for a certain time. However, the expansion board 301 is not used for a certain time or more. In this case, it is conceivable to reduce the clock frequency or reduce the supplied voltage to reduce the power consumption.

Although only the extension board has been described in the present embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is applicable to any peripheral equipment which receives power from the information processing apparatus 200.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, the specifications of the extension board 307 connected to the extension connector 211 are defined as some predetermined types. The power control information for each type is stored in a plurality of power control information holding units 216 provided in the information processing device 200.

The power control information stored in the plural power control information holding section 216 has the same structure as that shown in FIG.

Needless to say, the plural power control information holding unit 216 has a function corresponding to the power control information holding unit 306 of the first embodiment.

The operation will be described.

The CPU 201 is connected to the extension board 30.
In order to identify the seven types, the extension board identification information holding unit 30
The address corresponding to No. 5 is output, and the expansion board identification code stored in the expansion board identification information storage unit 305 is read.

Then, the type of the extension board 307 is discriminated according to the read extension board identification code.

As a result, the plural power control information holding unit 2
If the expansion board corresponds to any of the types defined in 16, the multiple power control information holding unit 2
The power control information of the type is read out from 16, and the power control of the extension board 307 is performed using this. The power control is the same as in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, it is possible to control the power according to the extension board. In addition, the expansion board 30
Since it is not necessary to read the power control information from 7, the start-up time can be shortened.

The extension board 307 may be usable even if it does not conform to the above-specified type, but in this case, power control cannot be performed.

When the power control information corresponding to the extension board connected in the first and second embodiments is read,
All or part of the power control information may be displayed on the display screen so that the user can confirm it. In this case, the user may be allowed to change the power control information. As a setting method by the user, for example, an input device such as a keyboard may be used to input arbitrary control information. Alternatively, a plurality of pieces of control information may be displayed on the screen and any one of them may be selected using an input device such as a keyboard. Thereby, the power control information such as the clock frequency can be set to a desired value, and the flexibility of power control is enhanced.

In the above embodiment, the means for storing the standard power consumption of various expansion boards in the power control information holding unit 306 or the plurality of power control information holding units 216 and the power supply capacity of the information processing apparatus are set. With the stored means, the means for calculating the operable time based on the information on the power consumption and the power capacity, and the means for notifying the user of the result, the power consumption of the connected expansion board can be reduced. I can know. With such a configuration, it becomes possible to roughly estimate how many hours the information processing apparatus can be used with a limited power supply such as a battery and inform the user of the remaining time. If a means for detecting the remaining amount of electric power at that time is provided, the operable time can be calculated more accurately.

[0076]

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform power control according to the type of peripheral device such as an expansion board, and it is possible to reduce power consumption in the expansion board.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an example of power control information.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a clock control unit 214.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power supply controller 215.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a power supply stop operation.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing changes in the voltage supplied to the extension board.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a general information processing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional expansion board.

[Explanation of symbols]

200: information processing device, 201: CPU, 202:
Bus, 203: ROM, 204: RAM, 20
5: display control unit, 206: display device, 207: floppy control unit, 208: floppy disk device, 20
9: keyboard interface, 210: keyboard
211: expansion connector, 212: clock generation unit, 213: power supply unit, 214: clock control unit,
215: Power supply control unit, 216: Plural power control information holding unit, 301: Expansion board, 302: Connector, 30
3: Bus, 304: Main part of board, 305: Expansion board identification information holding section, 306: Power control information holding section, 3
07: Expansion board, 501: Clock generator, 50
2: Frequency divider, 503: Selector, 601: Power supply, 6
02: Voltage converter, 603: Selector, 604: Timer, 605: Expansion board access monitoring unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Adult Ojo Adult 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi Ltd. Microelectronics Device Development Laboratory

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device which is used by being connected to another device, wherein the device is connected to the other device to exchange data, and power is supplied from the other device. Power control means for receiving power, and power control information having power control information indicating a range of control conditions under which the electronic device can operate, and capable of reading the power control information from the other device via the connection means. An information holding unit and a functional unit that receives a supply of electric power through the power receiving unit and that performs a predetermined function by being connected to the other device through the connecting unit. And electronic equipment. 2. The control conditions include voltage, clock frequency,
The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a time until the operating voltage and / or the clock frequency is changed when there is no access from the other device for a predetermined time or longer. .. 3. A connecting means for connecting another electronic device to exchange data with the other electronic device, a power supply means for supplying electric power to the other electronic device, and the connecting means. Power control information reading means for reading power control information indicating a range of operable control conditions of the electronic equipment from the electronic equipment connected to the electronic equipment, and the electronic equipment according to the power control information read by the power control information reading means. An electronic device comprising: a control unit that controls the electronic device. 4. A connecting means for connecting another electronic device to exchange data, a power supplying means for supplying electric power to the other electronic device, and a connecting means connected to the connecting means. Identification information reading means for reading identification information indicating the type of the electronic equipment from the electronic equipment, and one or more kinds of power control information pre-designating a range of control conditions of the electronic equipment that can be connected to the connection means. Power control information holding means, identification means for detecting the type of other electronic equipment connected to the connection means according to the identification information read by the identification information reading means, and electronic equipment of the type detected by the identification means According to the power control information reading means for reading the power control information corresponding to the power control information holding means from the power control information holding means, and the power control information read by the power control information reading means. Electronic apparatus characterized by and a control means for controlling the electronic apparatus. 5. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the control means is a clock frequency control means. 6. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the control means is a power supply control means for changing the voltage supplied to the electronic device by the power supply means. 7. The electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying the user of the power control information read by the power control information reading unit. 8. The electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising changing means for changing the power control information read by said power control information reading means. 9. The power control information includes power consumption information indicating power consumption of the electronic device, power source capacity storage means having capacity information indicating capacity of a power source of the electronic device itself, and the power control information. An operable time calculating means for calculating an operable time of the electronic device and / or an electronic device connected to the electronic device based on the power consumption information read by the reading means and the capacity information; The electronic device according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising: operable time notification means for notifying a user of the operable time calculated by the operable time calculation means. 10. The electric power control information indicating the range of control conditions of the other electronic device which the other electronic device has inside is read,
A power control method for controlling power of the other electronic device according to the power control information. 11. The identification information indicating the type of the other electronic device, which is contained in the other electronic device, is read, the type of the other electronic device is determined based on the read identification information, and the type is determined according to the type. A power control method for controlling the other electronic device according to a power control method preset in advance.