JPH0566863A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively execute power saving without trouble in the information processor for executing an information processing in accordance with an input by an operator's operation. CONSTITUTION:As a detecting means for detecting presence of a person (operator) in the vicinity of the device, for instance, an infrared-ray detector 4 for detecting infrared rays 3 radiated from the human body is provided. A frequency division rate of a frequency divider 8 dividing a clock signal supplied to a CPU 9 from an oscillator 7 is selected in accordance with a detecting signal of the detector 4, and the case the infrared rays 3 are not detected (in the case it is detected that a person does not exist in the vicinity of the device), a large frequency division rate is selected. In such a way, the frequency of the clock signal for driving the CPU 9 is reduced, and the processor becomes a power saving mode in which power consumption is reduced.

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 such as a personal computer or a word processor which processes information according to an input by an operator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a device of this type, which is particularly required to save power because of being driven by a battery, in order to save power, when there is no operation input on a keyboard for a certain period of time, (A) Lower the clock frequency of the CPU of the device.

(B) HDD (hard disk device) or FDD (floppy disk device) provided in the device
Stop the power supply of.

(C) The voltage of the power supply to part or all of the circuit of the device is reduced. Alternatively, (d) the backlight of the display of the device is turned off.

A configuration such as a power saving mode has been adopted.

[0006]

However, in any of the above-mentioned configurations, when the operator temporarily leaves the apparatus, the power saving mode cannot be immediately set, and there is no keyboard operation for a certain period of time. You have to wait, and there is a waste of power consumption.

Further, if the operator does not perform keyboard input and waits for the operation and data processing of the apparatus to end, the power saving mode is entered against the operator's intention when the above-mentioned predetermined time elapses. There are the following inconveniences.

In the configuration of (a), since the clock frequency is lowered, the time required for the operator to complete the calculation and the data processing becomes extra long.

In the configuration of (b), once the HDD or FDD is powered off, it takes a certain amount of time to restart, resulting in a waiting time for the operator when restarting.

In the configuration (c), a part or all of the circuit is in the sleep mode (for example, the SRAM is in the inaccessible backup mode by lowering the power supply voltage), so that the process being executed is stopped or Processing speed decreases.

In the configuration of (d), the screen of the display becomes extremely difficult to see because the backlight is turned off.

In order to avoid these inconveniences, it is necessary to operate the keyboard which is not necessary originally.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a structure capable of effectively performing power saving in the information processing apparatus of this type without causing the above problems.

[0014]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus of the type described above, a detection means for detecting whether or not there is a person near the apparatus, A configuration is adopted in which the detection unit is provided with a unit for setting a power saving mode for reducing the power consumption of the device when it is detected that there is no person near the device.

[0015]

According to this structure, when no person (operator) is present near the information processing apparatus, the power saving mode is automatically set.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, four examples will be described.

First, FIG. 1 shows a usage state common to the information processing apparatus of each embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1 is an operator, and 2 is an information processing device placed on a desk, which is configured as a personal computer or a word processor. Further, 3 is an infrared ray radiated from the operator 1.
The information processing device 2 includes a person near the device 2, that is, an operator 1
As a means for detecting whether or not there is an infrared ray, an infrared detector 4 for detecting the infrared ray 3 is provided. The directivity with which the detector 4 detects the infrared rays 3 is the directivity toward the front side of the device where the operator 1 is located during operation. This is advantageous in terms of improving detection sensitivity and reducing malfunctions.

With the infrared detector 4 as described above, infrared rays 3
Is not detected, that is, when it is detected that there is no person (operator 1) in the vicinity of the device 2, the information processing device 2 enters the power saving mode. The specific configuration for executing the power saving mode differs depending on each embodiment. Details of each embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6, common parts are denoted by common reference numerals, and duplicate description of common parts is omitted.

First Embodiment FIG. 2 shows a configuration for executing a power saving mode according to the above detection in the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 4 is an infrared detector for detecting the infrared rays 3 from the operator described above, and a filter 4a is provided in the light receiving portion thereof. Of the infrared rays, the filter 4a mainly transmits infrared rays having a wavelength radiated from the human body.

Reference numeral 5 is an amplifier for amplifying the output signal of the infrared detector 6 to a required level, and 6 is a level converter for making the output signal of the amplifier 5 a signal level that can be logically processed in the next stage. Reference numeral 7 is an oscillator that oscillates a clock signal, and oscillates a clock signal of 40 MHz, for example.

Reference numeral 8 is a frequency divider for frequency-dividing the clock signal, and the frequency division rate can be selected from two types according to the logical level of the input signal from the level converter 6. For example, when the logic level of the input signal is "1" (high level), the frequency division ratio is 1, that is, no frequency division is performed, and when the input signal is "0" (low level), the frequency division ratio is set to 40. It shall be.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a CPU which is composed of a microprocessor or the like which constitutes a control circuit of the information processing apparatus, and which is driven by a clock signal input from the frequency divider 8 to perform various arithmetic processing and data processing. Bus 10 for CPU 9
A memory (not shown) is connected via a keyboard, a keyboard, a disk drive device (HDD or FDD) (not shown), and other peripheral devices (not shown) are connected via an interface circuit (not shown).

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. Figure 1
When the operator 1 is in the vicinity of the front side where the information processing apparatus 2 is operated, the infrared rays 3 radiated from the operator 1
Is detected by the infrared detector 4, and the detection signal is shown in FIG.
Is amplified by the amplifier 5 and input to the level converter 6, and the logical level of the output signal of the level converter 6 becomes "1". Accordingly, the frequency division ratio of the frequency divider 8 is selected to be 1. That is, the 40 MHz clock signal output from the oscillator 7 is not divided, and the CPU 9 is driven by the 40 MHz clock signal.

On the other hand, when the operator 1 moves away from the vicinity of the information processing apparatus 2, the infrared detector 4 does not detect the infrared rays 3 and the output of the level converter 6 becomes "0". Accordingly, the frequency division ratio of the frequency divider is selected to 40, and the CPU 9 is driven by the 1 MHz clock signal. That is, the CPU 9 is driven at a low speed and enters a power saving mode in which power consumption is reduced.

According to the present embodiment as described above, the power saving mode is set as soon as the operator 1 moves away from the information processing device 2, so that waste of power consumption can be reduced and power saving is more effective than before. Can be done. In addition, since the power saving mode is not set as long as the operator 1 is near the device 2, the power saving mode is set against the operator's intention due to the waiting state for completion of arithmetic processing and data processing as in the conventional case. It is possible to avoid the inconvenience caused by this.

In the above configuration, the power saving mode may not be set to the power saving mode immediately after the output of the level converter 6 becomes "0", but may be set to the power saving mode after an appropriate predetermined time has elapsed. In the power saving mode, the clock signal may be stopped, that is, the frequency may be set to 0 to stop the CPU 9.

Second Embodiment FIG. 3 shows a configuration according to the second embodiment. The apparatus of this embodiment includes an HDD for writing and reading information to and from a hard disk as a disk-shaped magnetic recording medium.
A (hard disk drive) 13 is provided. Then, the output signal of the level converter 6 is input to the power supply controller 12. The power supply controller 12 is inserted between the HDD 13 and a power supply line 11 for supplying power to the HDD 13, and according to the level of the input signal from the level converter 6, the HDD 1
3 is a circuit for turning on or off the power supply to 3.
In addition, 14 is an HDD according to the instruction of the CPU of the information processing apparatus.
HDC (hard disk controller) for controlling 13
Is.

Next, the operation will be described. When the operator is near the information processing apparatus, the infrared ray 3 from the operator is detected by the infrared detector 4, and the output of the level converter 6 is "1".
become. In response to this, the power supply controller 12 causes the power supply line 11 to
Power supply to the HDD 13 is turned on.

On the other hand, when the operator leaves the vicinity of the information processing apparatus, the infrared detector 4 does not detect the infrared rays 3 and the output of the level converter 6 becomes "0". In response to this, the power supply controller 12 cuts off the power supply to the HDD 13. That is, the power saving mode is achieved in which the power consumption is reduced.

According to the present embodiment as described above, the power saving can be effectively performed without any trouble as in the first embodiment. The HDD 13 and the HDC 1 in the configuration of this embodiment are
4 may be replaced with an FDD (floppy disk drive device) 15 and an FDC (floppy disk controller) 16 as shown in FIG.

Third Embodiment FIG. 5 shows a configuration according to the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the output signal of the level converter 6 is input to the power supply controller 17. The power supply controller 17 is a circuit that controls the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply line 11 to the main circuit 18, which is a main part of the electronic circuit of the information processing apparatus, according to the input signal from the level converter 6.

In this configuration, when the operator is near the information processing apparatus and the output of the level converter 6 is "1" due to detection of the infrared ray 3, the power controller 17 causes the power line 1 to operate.
The power supply voltage of the power supply line 11 is directly supplied to the main circuit 18 without changing the power supply voltage of 1.

On the other hand, when the operator moves away from the vicinity of the information processing device and the output of the level converter 6 becomes "0", the power supply controller 13 responds to this from the power supply line 11 to the main circuit 1.
The power supply voltage supplied to 8 is reduced. As a result, the main circuit 18 enters a sleep state and enters a power saving mode in which power consumption is reduced. Since the power supply is not cut off, the stored data in the memory included in the main circuit 18 is retained.

Also according to the present embodiment as described above, power saving can be effectively performed without any trouble.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 6 shows a configuration according to the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, the output signal of the level converter 6 is input to the brightness adjuster 19. The brightness adjuster 19 is a circuit that controls the brightness of the backlight 20 of a flat-type display (display device) 21 including a liquid crystal display device or the like.

In this configuration, when the operator is near the information processing apparatus and the output of the level converter 6 is "1" due to detection of the infrared rays 3, the brightness adjuster 19 lights the backlight 20 at a normal brightness. is doing.

On the other hand, when the operator moves away from the vicinity of the information processing apparatus and the output of the level converter 6 becomes "0", the brightness adjuster 19 lowers the brightness of the backlight 20 in response to this, or the backlight adjuster 19 accordingly. Turn off 20. As a result, the power saving mode is achieved in which the power consumption is reduced.

According to the present embodiment as described above, power saving can be effectively performed without any trouble as in the above-described embodiments.

By the way, in each of the above-described embodiments, whether or not there is a person (operator) in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus is detected by infrared rays, but the detection method is not limited to this, and carbon dioxide, visible light, The detection may be performed by sound, electromagnetic waves, capacitance, or the like.

[0041]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus that performs information processing according to an input by an operator's operation, it is detected whether or not there is a person near the apparatus. Of the information processing apparatus, since the detection means for controlling the information processing apparatus and the means for setting the power saving mode for reducing the power consumption of the apparatus when the detection section detects that there is no person near the apparatus are used. When there is no person (operator) in the vicinity, the power saving mode is automatically set, and there is an excellent effect that power saving can be performed effectively without any trouble.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a usage state of an information processing apparatus common to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Operator 2 Information processing device 3 Infrared 4 Infrared detector 5 Amplifier 6 Level converter 7 Oscillator 8 Frequency divider 9 CPU 12, 17 Power supply controller 13 HDD 15 FDD 18 Main circuit 19 Brightness adjuster 20 Backlight 21 Display

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location 7832-5B G06F 1/00 332 Z

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus which performs information processing in response to an input by an operator's operation, and detecting means for detecting whether or not there is a person near the apparatus, and a person near the apparatus by the detecting means. An information processing apparatus comprising means for setting a power saving mode for reducing power consumption of the apparatus when it is detected that there is no information. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the power saving mode, a frequency of a clock signal that drives a CPU that constitutes a control circuit of the information processing apparatus is reduced. 3. A disk drive device for writing and reading information to and from a disk-shaped recording medium, wherein power supply to the disk drive device is cut off in the power saving mode. Information processing equipment. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a power supply voltage of at least a part of a circuit of the information processing apparatus is reduced in the power saving mode. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display device having a backlight, wherein the brightness of the backlight is reduced or turned off in the power saving mode.