JPH07311635A - Method and device for controlling power source for computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a computer power source controller which prevents inade quate operation that possibly occurs in the case of a power interruption or at power recovery time as to a computer system which automatically powers ON and OFF a computer according to an expected operation schedule. CONSTITUTION:A computer operation schedule timer 4 is incorporated in the computer power controller 1 and sends a power-ON/OFF signal to the computer 2 at specified time of the timer. Further, the timer sends a power-OFF signal to the computer in case of a power interruption and a power-ON signal when the system recovers from the power interruption. The computer 2 requires a long time from the power-ON signal input to the completion of actuation or from the power-OFF signal input to the disconnection of the power source after processing is stopped. When those signals are sent out, the sending-out timing points of the respective signals are determined by judging the elapsed times from the signal of the computer operation schedule timer 4, the state signal of the computer, and the power-ON signal which is sent out before.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power supply control method for a computer processing device, a personal computer, a work station, etc. (abbreviated as a computer in this specification), and in particular, is supplied with power from an uninterruptible power supply device. Power on the computer after power failure,
The present invention relates to a power supply control device for a computer, which is characterized by a disconnection control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of automating the turning on and off of a computer, the operating time of the computer is set in advance in a computer running schedule timer, and the signal of this computer running schedule timer controls the turning on and off of the power of the computer. What to do is generalized.

Further, by obtaining the power supplied to the computer from the output of an uninterruptible power supply (hereinafter abbreviated as UPS), a momentary power interruption of a general commercial power supply, an unexpected power outage, etc. Protects the operation of the computer from power failure, and if a power failure occurs, the UPS sends a power failure signal to the computer, and within the time when power can be supplied from the UPS, the work being performed by the computer is forcibly terminated. Stopping methods are also widely adopted. In this case, in order to avoid frequent repetition of the stop process due to a very short power failure that frequently occurs, devise a scheme that the UPS does not send a power failure signal to the computer during a power failure within a certain time (usually 1 minute). There is also a UPS.

On the other hand, when the power failure state is recovered after the operation of the computer is stopped due to the occurrence of the power failure, it is necessary to judge whether or not the operation of the computer is automatically restarted. Conventionally, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-187618, the power of a computer is automatically turned on when power is restored after the power switch of the computer is pressed, and in other cases (for example, a computer operation schedule). (After a power failure that occurred during timer operation)
There has been proposed a method of not turning on the power of the computer when the power failure is recovered.

[0005]

When the method according to the prior art described above is adopted for automatic operation of a computer by a computer operation schedule timer, if a power failure occurs while the computer is stopped, even if the power failure is restored, There is a problem that the power is not automatically turned on at the start of the next computer operation.

Further, the computer requires a considerable start-up time from power-on until processing becomes possible, and conversely, a considerable stop-time from input of a power-off signal to actual completion of power-off. That is, the computer starts this,
During the stop operation, power on / off signals cannot be received. Therefore, if a power-on / off signal is output to the computer during such a period, the desired operation cannot be achieved.

When a situation in which the UPS function cannot be expected, such as a UPS failure or a battery voltage drop, occurs in addition to a power failure, it is necessary to send a power-off signal to the computer as in the case of a power failure. Yes, a power-off signal is sent to the computer as when a power failure occurred, but UP
When S and the computer are installed separately,
There was also a problem that the reason for stopping the computer was unknown.

The present invention, in a computer system for automatically turning on / off the power of a computer in accordance with a scheduled operation schedule, prevents a malfunction occurring due to the occurrence of a power failure or the timing of recovery from a power failure state. It is to provide a power supply control device for a computer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer power supply control device capable of recognizing the reason for stopping the computer even when the UPS is installed at a position distant from the computer. To do.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the computer power supply control method of the present invention receives power from an uninterruptible power supply according to an operation schedule set in a computer operation schedule timer. A power supply control method for sending a power-on / off signal to a computer, which sends a power-off signal to a computer when a power failure signal is input from an uninterruptible power supply due to a power failure of commercial power, When the power failure is restored and the power failure signal from the uninterruptible power supply disappears, it is checked whether the operation schedule of the computer is currently in the operation time zone, and when it is in the operation time zone, the power is automatically supplied to the computer. Sends a power-on signal and powers on the computer when the computer's operating schedule is outside the operating hours. It is obtained so as not to perform transmission of No..

In this control method, after the power-off signal is sent, if the power is restored before the computer stops processing and completes the power-off, the power-on signal is awaited after the power-off of the computer is completed. Send out.

If a power failure occurs after the power-on signal is sent to the computer and before the computer is in the startup completion state, the power-off signal is sent after waiting the time required for the computer to complete the startup. .

Further, when a power failure signal, a failure signal or a battery voltage drop signal is received from the uninterruptible power supply, it is possible to display a message to that effect or issue an alarm.

A power supply control device according to the present invention is a power supply control device which sends a power-on / off signal to a computer supplied with power from an uninterruptible power supply according to an operation schedule. An operation schedule timer to be managed, and an input means for receiving a power failure signal from the uninterruptible power supply when a power failure of the commercial power source occurs,
Output means for sending a power-on signal or a power-off signal to a computer, and generating the power-off signal when a power-off signal from the uninterruptible power supply is received, and turning on the power when the power-off signal disappears A control means for controlling the output means so as to generate a signal, the control means automatically supplies power to the computer when the operation schedule of the computer is in the operation time zone when the power failure signal is absent. The power-on signal is generated, and control is performed so that the power-on signal is not generated when the operation schedule of the computer is outside the operation time zone.

[0015]

According to the present invention, first, at the time of power failure recovery, the state of the computer operation schedule timer is collated with the state signal of the computer, the computer operation schedule timer indicates that the computer is in operation time, and the computer is stopped. In the case of sending the power-on signal to the computer, when the computer is in operation time and the computer is still in operation, it waits for the computer to stop and then sends the power-on signal to the computer, and the computer operation schedule timer stops the computer operation. When the time is instructed, the power supply control is performed such that the power-on signal is not sent to the computer.

In order to prevent the power-off signal from being sent to the computer within the start-up time of the computer after the power-on signal is sent to the computer, the power failure of the computer such as the occurrence of a power failure within a certain time after the computer is started up. When a stop factor occurs, control is performed such that a power-off signal is sent to the computer after waiting for a fixed time required for starting the computer.

Further, a signal indicating a state in which the UPS cannot continue normal operation, such as a failure of the UPS, a battery voltage drop, etc., which is input from the UPS, is used as a trigger for sending a power-off signal to the computer, similarly to the power failure signal. , Display these signals and give an alarm.

By controlling the computer power supply in this way, even if the operation is temporarily stopped due to a power outage within the scheduled operation time of the computer, the power supply of the computer is automatically restarted by the restoration of the power outage. It is turned on and the operation is started.

Further, even if the start and the end of the power failure occur during the start-up or stop of the computer, the power-off signal and the power-on signal can be appropriately sent to the computer.

Further, the cause when the operation of the computer is stopped can be confirmed by the display and the alarm, which is convenient for the user and helps the countermeasure.

[0021]

FIG. 1 is a connection system diagram of a computer power supply control device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a computer power supply control device according to the present invention, 2 is a computer processing device, 3
Is UPS. A computer operation schedule timer 4 constitutes a part of the computer power supply control device 1. The UPS 3 receives commercial power input and supplies an uninterruptible power supply output to the computer power supply control device 1 and the computer 2. In addition, the UPS 3 has a function of notifying the power supply control device 1 of the occurrence of a power outage of the commercial power supply, its own failure, or a battery voltage drop. The power control device 1 has a function of instructing the computer 2 to turn on and off the power. The computer 2 has a function of notifying the power supply control device 1 of its own computer status. The inside of the computer power supply control device 1 is composed of an electronic circuit using a microprocessor as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, 11 is a microprocessor, 12 is a memory, 13 is an input / output unit, 14 is an interface unit, 15 is a display / warning unit, and 16 is a power supply unit. The memory 12 stores a program for controlling computer power supply, data necessary for this execution, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a schematic flow of computer power supply control. FIG. 4 is a timing explanatory diagram of turning on / off of the computer power supply by the computer power supply control device 1 according to the present invention.

The control operation of the computer power supply control device 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. In this example, it is assumed that the computer operation schedule timer 4 in FIG. 1 is turned on from 6:00 to 20:00.

At the time when the computer operation schedule timer 4 changes from OFF to ON (6:00 in the example of FIG. 4), the computer power supply control device 1 detects this and
Further, it is confirmed whether or not there is a power failure and whether or not the computer 2 is already in operation (computer state signal OFF), for example, by manual operation. After that, after activating the t ₃ timer, a power-on signal is sent to the computer 2 (see FIG. 3).
Line 1).

Here, the t ₃ timer is a soft timer for taking the guaranteed activation time t ₃ of the computer 2 shown in FIG.

The reason for confirming that the computer 2 is not already operating is that the computer 2 performs a power-off operation when the power-on signal is repeatedly sent when the computer 2 is already operating. This is because the method was also taken into consideration.

When a power-on signal is sent to the computer 2, the computer 2 finishes booting after the t ₁ computer boot time of FIG.

When the power failure shown by a in FIG. 4 occurs, the computer power supply controller 1 detects this by the power failure signal input from the UPS 3, and the computer 2 is operating there, or the t ₃ timer is set after starting. Check if the time has passed. After this confirmation, a power-off signal is sent to the computer 2 (third line in FIG. 3). If the set time has not elapsed after the activation of the t ₃ timer, the power-off signal is sent after waiting for the elapse.

When the power-off signal is sent to the computer 2, the computer 2 completes the stop after the time t ₂ computer stop time of FIG.

When the power failure shown by "a" in FIG. 4 is restored, the computer power supply controller 1 detects this by the power failure input signal from the UPS3. Therefore, it is confirmed that the computer operation schedule timer 4 is ON, and further that the computer 2 is not operating, and the t ₃ timer is activated to send a power-on signal to the computer 2 (4 in FIG. 3). Line).

When a power failure occurs for a short time as shown by b in FIG. 4, the computer power supply control device 1 confirms whether the computer 2 is in operation or whether the time set by the t ₃ timer has elapsed after starting. , Sends a power-off signal to the computer 2. This operation is similar to that at the time of occurrence of the power failure of a shown above (the third line in FIG. 3).

When the power failure for a short time shown in FIG. 4b is restored, the computer power supply control device 1 confirms that the computer operation schedule of the computer operation schedule timer 4 in FIG. Check if 2 is not running. In the example of the short-time power failure shown in b of FIG. 4, since the power failure duration time tb is shorter than the computer stop time t ₂ , the computer 2 is still in operation at the time of power failure recovery, and the computer 2
Wait for the operation to stop (that is, after confirming that the computer status signal is turned off), start the t ₃ timer,
A power-on signal is sent to the computer 2 (fourth line in FIG. 3).

As shown by c in FIG. 4, if a power failure occurs after the power-on signal is sent to the computer 2 and before the computer 2 completes starting up, the computer 2 is started up after sending the power-on signal to the computer 2. Since the time t ₃ required for completion has not elapsed, a power-off signal is sent to the computer 2 after the time of the t ₃ timer has elapsed (third line in FIG. 3).

At the time when the computer operation schedule timer 4 in FIG. 1 is turned off (20:00 in the example in FIG. 4), the computer power supply controller 1 detects this and confirms whether the computer 2 is still operating. Then, after confirming whether the time of the t ₃ timer has elapsed, a power-off signal is sent to the computer 2 (second line in FIG. 3).

As shown by d in FIG. 4, when a power failure occurs during the time when the computer operation schedule timer 4 is OFF, the power-off signal is not sent to the computer 2 when the computer 2 is not operating. Also, the power-on signal is not transmitted even after the power failure is restored (the third and fourth lines in FIG. 3).

When a fault signal or a low battery voltage signal is input from the UPS 3 of FIG. 1, the computer power supply control device 1 displays the state and issues an alarm (however, in FIG. 1, an indicator lamp and an alarm device (The display is omitted) (Fig. 3
Line 5). With this, even when the UPS and the computer are installed apart from each other, the reason why the computer is stopped can be easily recognized.

In the control flow of FIG. 3, in the sixth line, the control returns to the first line.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the power-off signal is sent to the computer to stop the operation of the computer. Depending on the model of the computer, there is a method in which the process of interrupting the work being processed and stopping the operation is realized by another method such as a shutdown process.
The sending of the power-off signal referred to in the present invention includes, in a broad sense, an operation of sending to the computer a signal instructing to stop the operation of the computer.

In the above example, the computer power supply control device 1 is composed of an electronic circuit using a microprocessor as shown in FIG. 2, and the control function of FIG. 3 is realized by the control program of the microprocessor. I decided. However, the computer power supply control device 1 can also be realized by a general logic circuit, and does not limit the method of configuring the computer power supply control device of the present invention.

Further, in the present embodiment, the computer operation schedule timer 4 for presetting the operation schedule of the computer is explained as being mounted inside the computer power supply control device 1, but the mounting position and the configuration of the computer operation schedule timer are explained. The method is not limited to this.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a computer that operates in combination with UPS in addition to controlling the turning on / off of the computer power according to a preset operation schedule of the computer, It is possible to realize a computer power supply control device capable of automatically and surely turning off the computer power supply when a power failure occurs and turning on the computer power supply again after a power failure recovery.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a connection system diagram of a computer power supply control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of control functions of the computer power supply control device shown in FIG.

4 is an explanatory diagram of a computer power supply control result by a control function of the computer power supply control device shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Power supply control device for computer, 2 ... Computer processing device, 3 ... Uninterruptible power supply device, 4 ... Computer operation schedule timer, 11 ... Microprocessor,
12 ... memory, 13 ... output unit, 14 ... interface, 15 ... display and alarm unit, 16 ... power unit, t ₁ ...
Computer start-up time, t ₂ ... computer stop time, t ₃ ... start-up guaranteed time, ta ... power failure signal duration,
tb ... power failure signal duration of short time,

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A power supply control method for sending a power on / off signal to a computer supplied with power from an uninterruptible power supply according to an operation schedule set in a computer operation schedule timer, which is a commercial power supply. When a power failure signal is input from the uninterruptible power supply due to the occurrence of a power outage, a power off signal is sent to the computer, and when the power failure is restored and the power failure signal from the uninterruptible power supply is no The schedule is currently
Check whether it is in the operation time zone, automatically send the power-on signal to the computer during the operation time zone, and send the power-on signal to the computer when the operation schedule of the computer is outside the operation time zone A power supply control method for a computer, which is characterized by not performing. 2. If, after the power-off signal is sent, the power is restored before the computer stops processing and completes the power-off, the power-on signal is sent after waiting for the power-off of the computer. The computer power supply control method according to claim 1. 3. When a power failure occurs after the power-on signal is sent to the computer but before the computer is in the startup completion state, the power-off signal is sent after waiting the time required for the computer to complete the startup. The power supply control method for a computer according to claim 1 or 2, configured as described above. 4. The computer according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein when a power failure signal, a failure signal or a battery voltage drop signal is received from the uninterruptible power supply, a display indicating that effect is given or an alarm is issued. Power supply control method. 5. A power supply control device for sending a power-on / off signal to a computer supplied with power from an uninterruptible power supply according to an operation schedule, and an operation schedule timer for managing the operation schedule. Input means for receiving a power failure signal from the uninterruptible power supply due to the occurrence of a power failure of the commercial power supply, output means for sending a power-on signal or a power-off signal to the computer, and a power failure signal from the uninterruptible power supply And a control means for controlling the output means so as to generate the power supply disconnection signal and generate the power supply signal when the power failure signal disappears. If the computer's operating schedule is during the operating hours, the computer will automatically generate a power-on signal.
A power supply control device for a computer, which controls so as not to generate a power-on signal when the operation schedule of the computer is outside the operation time period. 6. The input means also inputs a computer status signal indicating its operating state from a computer, and the control means, after the power-off signal is generated, the computer stops processing and completes power-off. 6. The power supply control device for a computer according to claim 5, wherein, when it is detected that the power failure has been recovered before, the computer status signal is monitored and a power-on signal is generated after the completion of power-off of the computer. . 7. A time-lapse means for counting the elapse of a predetermined time after generation of a power-on signal to the computer, the control means based on the output of the time-lapse means after generation of the power-on signal. 7. The computer according to claim 5 or 6, wherein when a power failure occurs before the computer reaches the startup completion state, the power-off signal is generated after waiting a time required for the computer to complete the startup. Power control device. 8. The input means receives not only the power failure signal but also a failure signal or a battery voltage drop signal from the uninterruptible power supply, and when any one of the signals is received, a display to that effect is displayed or 8. The computer power supply control device according to claim 5, further comprising means for issuing an alarm.