JPH0744280A - Information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use the plural kinds of extended storage devices in which the values of operating power supply voltages are different by one information processor. CONSTITUTION:Whether the operating power supply voltage of an extended storage device 40 mounted on a system 30 main body is 3.3V or 5V is detected by the system 30 main body, and a power supply voltage VCC to be supplied to the extended storage device 40 is switched to 3.3V or 5V according to the detected result. Thus, it is possible to supply the power supply voltage which is 3.3V to the extended storage device 40 of 3.3V operation, and it is possible to supply the power supply voltage which is 5V to the extended storage device 40 of 5V operation. Therefore, both the extended storage device of 3.3V operation and the storage device of 5V operation can be used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing system having an information processing apparatus and an additional storage device mounted on the information processing apparatus main body and operated by a power supply voltage supplied from the information processing apparatus main body. The present invention relates to a system including a top-type or notebook-type personal portable computer and an additional storage device such as a memory card connected thereto.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, various portable laptop or notebook type portable computers have been developed. In this type of portable computer system, for example, a memory card or a memory board is often used as an additional storage device.
Conventionally, the operating power supply voltage of this type of additional storage device was 5V. Recently, due to advances in low-voltage technology, an IC memory with an operating power supply voltage of 3.3V has been developed, and as a result, there are two types of additional storage devices, 5V operation and 3.3V operation.

However, the conventional portable computer can only support one of the 5V operation additional storage device and the 3.3V operation additional storage device.

FIG. 5 shows the basic configuration of a conventional information processing system 10 such as a portable computer. As shown, the conventional information processing system 10 includes
A CPU 11, a BIOSROM 12, a power supply circuit 13, a storage control circuit 14, and an I / O control circuit 15 are provided, and the power supply output VCC from the power supply circuit 13 is directly connected to the additional storage device 20. Therefore, when the power switch SW is turned on and the system is powered on, the power supply voltage VCC is immediately supplied to the additional storage device 20.

Therefore, for example, when the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device 20 to be used is 3.3V and the power supply voltage VCC output from the system 10 is 5V, the power supply voltage of 5V remains unchanged. Has been supplied to
There was a risk that the additional storage device 20 would be destroyed. The power supply voltage VCC output from the system 10 is 3.
In the case of 3V, the read / write operation of the additional storage device 20 operating at 5V cannot be guaranteed.

As described above, conventionally, 3.3V or 5
Since the power supply voltage VCC having the value of V is uniquely supplied to the additional storage device 20, only one type of the additional storage device of 5V operation and the additional storage device of 3.3V operation can be used. It was

[0007]

In the conventional information processing system, the power supply voltage VCC of 3.3V or 5V is uniquely supplied to the additional storage device. There is a drawback that only one type of additional storage device operating at 3V can be used.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to switch the value of the power supply voltage supplied to the additional storage device according to the type of the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device to be mounted, An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system capable of utilizing a plurality of types of additional storage devices having different operating power supply voltages.

[0009]

Means and Actions for Solving the Problems
In an information processing system having an information processing apparatus main body and an additional storage device mounted on the information processing apparatus main body and driven by a power source supplied from the information processing apparatus main body, the information processing apparatus main body is provided with the information processing apparatus. An operating power supply voltage detecting means for detecting whether the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device mounted on the main body is the first power supply voltage or the second power supply voltage having a lower value than that, and A power supply voltage switching means for selecting one of the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage according to the detection result of the operating power supply voltage detection means and supplying the selected power supply voltage to the additional storage device. And

In this information processing system, the operating power supply voltage detecting means detects whether the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device is the first power supply voltage or the second power supply voltage having a lower value than the first power supply voltage, and the detection result is obtained. Accordingly, the power supply voltage supplied to the additional storage device is switched to one of the first and second power supply voltages. Therefore, for example, a 3.3V power supply voltage can be supplied to an 3.3V operation additional storage device, and a 5V power supply voltage can be supplied to a 5V operation additional storage device. . Therefore, both the 3.3V-operation additional storage device and the 5V-operation additional storage device can be used.

In addition to the power supply voltage, various signals such as control signals, data and addresses are supplied from the interface circuit to the additional storage device. For this reason, means is further provided for inhibiting the signal output of the interface circuit from the time the power is turned on until the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device is detected, and the additional storage device is prevented from being destroyed by the voltage levels of these various signals. It is preferably configured to prevent.

According to this structure, it is possible to prevent the situation where the power supply voltage and the signal are supplied to the additional storage device immediately after the system is powered on, and the reliability can be improved.

Further, the additional storage device is provided with an output terminal which is grounded or opened according to the type of the operating power supply voltage by utilizing, for example, an empty terminal, and the operating power supply voltage is set to the first by detecting the potential. It is possible to detect the power supply voltage or the second power supply voltage.

In this configuration, the RO of the additional storage device
Unlike the method of detecting the operating power supply voltage using the identification data read from M or the control signal generated from the additional storage device, the operating power supply voltage can be easily detected without supplying power to the additional storage device. be able to. Therefore, since the electric signal for the detection process is not actually transmitted / received, the probability of destruction of the additional storage device can be reduced accordingly.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to screens. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system 30 is a laptop type or notebook type portable computer, and is configured so that an additional storage device 40 including a memory card or a memory board can be mounted.

As shown in the figure, the main body of the information processing system 30 includes a CPU 31, a BIOSROM 32, a power supply controller 33, a memory control circuit 34, and an I / O.
Control circuit 35, 3V / 5V supply switching circuit 3
6. Destruction prevention circuit 37, 3V / 5V switching buffer 3
Eight.

The CPU 31 controls the entire system. For example, when the power is turned on, the BI is
The initial program stored in the OSROM 32 is executed to detect the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device 40 and switch the power supply voltage VCC.

The power supply controller 33 supplies various power supply voltages (3.3V, 5V, etc.) for powering on the system in response to the turning on of the power switch SW to each unit in the system and expands it. As the power supply voltage for the storage device 40, the power supply voltage of 3.3V and the power supply voltage of 5V are supplied to the 3V / 5V supply switching circuit 36.

The memory control circuit 34 includes the CPU 1
It is for controlling the additional storage device 40 under the control of 1, and generates control signals such as the row address strobe signal RAS and the column address strobe signal CAS, and the memory address MA. The control signals such as the row address strobe signal RAS and the column address strobe signal CAS, and the memory address MA are
It is supplied to the 3V / 5V switching buffer 38.

The I / O control circuit 35 is for controlling various I / O inside the main body of the information processing system 30 and supplies the system address SA and system data SD from the CPU 31 to various I / O. Control the read / write. The I / O control circuit 35 also receives a predetermined status signal from the additional storage device 40 and holds the value of the status signal in an internal register. Furthermore, the I / O control circuit 35
The CPU 31 has a register in which detection data indicating the detection result of the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device 40 is set, and the detection data set in the register is sent to the power supply controller 33 as a detection signal DET.

The 3V / 5V supply switching circuit 36 is a CP
In response to an instruction from U11, one of 3.3 V and 5 V power supply voltage from the power supply controller 33 is selected, and the selected power supply voltage is supplied to the additional storage device 40 as the power supply voltage VCC via the destruction prevention circuit 37. The power supply voltage selecting operation of the 3V / 5V supply switching circuit 36 is controlled by the select signal SEL from the power supply controller 33 having a value according to the value of the detection signal DET.

The destruction prevention circuit 37 prohibits the exchange of signals between the additional storage device 40 and the main body of the system 30 during the period from the power-on of the system to the detection of the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device 40. The 3V / 5V switching buffer 38 is provided for that period.
Disable. Further, when the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device 40 is detected, the destruction prevention circuit 37 detects 3V /
While enabling the 5V switching buffer 38,
The power supply voltage from the 3V / 5V supply switching circuit 36 is 3V.
It is output to the / 5V switching buffer 38 as it is.

The control operation of the disable / enable of the 3V / 5V switching buffer 38 by the destruction prevention circuit 37 is controlled by the control signal CONT output from the 3V / 5V supply switching circuit 36 in response to the select signal SEL.

The 3V / 5V switching buffer 38 has three steps.
It is configured to be able to be driven by both 3V and 5V power supply voltages. When a 5V power supply voltage is supplied, the
Output various control signals of the voltage level corresponding to the power supply voltage value of, and when the 3.3V power supply voltage is supplied, various control of the voltage level smaller than the voltage level when the 5V power supply voltage is supplied Output a signal.

The additional storage device 40 is the information processing system 3
0 is a memory card or a memory board that is connected to a connector or slot of the main body as necessary, and has a built-in IC memory.

Next, the principle of the operation for determining the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the additional storage device 40 operating at 5V is used. As shown in the figure, the status signal (STATUS) of the additional storage device 40 of 5V operation is displayed.
The output pin is open and floating. Therefore, the status signal (STATUS) output pin is in a high impedance state.

This status signal (STATUS) output pin is pulled up via a resistor in the main body of the information processing system 30. Therefore, when the additional storage device 40 operating at 5 V is attached, the operating power supply voltage information is "H".
It becomes the "IGH" level, whereby the status data of "1" is set in the register of the I / O control circuit 35.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, 3.3.
In the V-operation additional storage device 40, its status signal (STATUS) output pin is connected to the ground terminal, and its potential is electrically fixed to the ground level.

The status signal (STATUS) output pin is pulled up via a resistor in the main body of the information processing system 30. Therefore, when the 3.3V-operation additional storage device 40 is attached, the operating power supply voltage information is "L".
It becomes the OW "level, whereby the status data of" 0 "is set in the register of the I / O control circuit 35.

As the status signal (STATUS) output pin, an empty pin, for example, in the case of a JEIDA specification memory card, one pin out of four PD signals not used can be used.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of the information processing system 30 when the power is turned on will be described. The operation when the power is turned on is controlled by the initial program of the BIOSROM 32.

First, when the power switch SW is turned on, the system 30 is powered on and the CPU 31 executes the initial program of the BIOSROM 32.
The CPU 31 supplies the control signal CONT of "0" level to the destruction prevention circuit 37 through the I / O control circuit 35, the power supply controller 33, and the 3V / 5V supply switching circuit 36, and enables the destruction prevention circuit 37 (step S11). As a result, the 3V / 5V switching buffer 38 is disabled by the destruction prevention circuit 37.

Next, the CPU 31 executes an initialization sequence of the system, starts initialization of various hardware and memory, and checks the mounting of the additional storage device 40 (step S12). The mounting check of the additional storage device 40 can be performed by using the card detection signal when the additional storage device 40 is a memory card. This card detection signal is a signal connected to the ground terminal in the card.

When the additional storage device 40 is installed, C
The PU 31 reads status data from the register of the I / O control circuit 35, and determines whether the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device 40 is 5V or 3.3V operation according to the value of the status data (step S1
3, S14).

As described above, the status data of "1" is set when the additional storage device 40 of 5V operation is attached, and the status data of "0" is set when the additional storage device 40 of 3.3V operation is attached. Since the status data is set, the CPU 31 determines that the operating power supply voltage is 5V when the read status data is "1", and sets the operating power supply voltage to 3. when the read status data is "0".
It is determined to be 3V.

Next, the CPU 31 controls the CPU 3 through the I / O control circuit 35 and the power supply controller 33.
The V / 5V supply switching circuit 36 is controlled to select either one of the 3.3V power supply voltage and the 5V power supply voltage, and the breakdown prevention circuit 37 is disabled to set the 3V / 5V power supply voltage.
Enable the switching buffer 38 (step S
15, S16, S17).

As described above, in this embodiment, the system 30 main body detects whether the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device 40 mounted on the system 30 main body is 3.3V or 5V, and depending on the detection result. The power supply voltage VCC supplied to the additional storage device 40 is switched to either 3.3V or 5V.

Therefore, for example, a 3.3V power supply voltage can be supplied to the 3.3V operation additional storage device 40, and 5V can be supplied to the 5V operation additional storage device 40.
A power supply voltage of V can be supplied. Therefore,
It is possible to use both the 3.3V operation additional storage device and the 5V operation additional storage device.

Further, since the signal output by the 3V / 5V switching buffer is prohibited by the destruction prevention circuit 37 until the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device 40 is detected, the additional storage is performed by a signal other than the power supply voltage. Device 40
It is possible to prevent the situation that the is destroyed.

In particular, when the system 30 has a next-generation system configuration in which all the units in the system operate at 3.3V, the conventional device of 5V operation can be attached to the system 30 and used. Various existing memories such as cards, memory boards, and modem cards and peripheral devices can be effectively used in the next-generation system.

Although only the additional storage device 40 composed of a memory card and a memory board has been described here, the present invention is a device mounted on the system body and driven by a power source from the system body. Therefore, any card-shaped (or board-shaped) device including an IC can be applied not only to the storage device but also to various peripheral devices such as a modem card.

When the system 30 has a next-generation system configuration in which all the units in the system operate at 3.3V, the power supply circuit does not need to generate a power supply voltage of 5V, so that 3V / 5V is supplied. It is preferable to provide a booster circuit for boosting the 3.3V power supply voltage to 5V instead of the switching circuit 36, and control the operation of the booster circuit by the select signal SEL.

[0043]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the value of the power supply voltage supplied to the additional storage device can be switched according to the type of the operating power supply voltage of the attached additional storage device. It is possible to use a plurality of types of additional storage devices having different operating power supply voltages.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a principle for identifying an operating power supply voltage of an additional storage device of 5V operation used in the information processing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a principle for identifying an operating power supply voltage of an additional storage device operating at 3.35 V used in the information processing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the information processing system of the embodiment when the power is turned on.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional information processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

30 ... Information processing system main body, 31 ... CPU, 32 ... B
IOSROM, 33 ... Power supply controller, 34 ... Memory control circuit, 35 ... I / O control circuit, 36 ... 3V / 5V supply switching circuit, 37 ... Destruction prevention circuit, 38 ... 3V / 5V switching buffer.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information processing system having an information processing apparatus main body and an additional storage device mounted on the information processing apparatus main body and driven by a power source supplied from the information processing apparatus main body, wherein the information processing apparatus main body is An operating power supply for detecting which of the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage having a lower value than the first power supply voltage the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device mounted in the information processing device main body is. Voltage detection means, and power supply voltage switching means for selecting one of the first and second power supply voltages according to the detection result of the operating power supply voltage detection means and supplying the selected power supply voltage to the additional storage device. An information processing system comprising: 2. The information processing apparatus main body is provided with a connector to which the additional storage device is connected, and the first or second power supply voltage supplied from the power supply voltage switching means, and the value of the supplied power supply voltage. An interface circuit for outputting various signals having a voltage level corresponding to the above to the additional storage device via the slot, and the information processing so as to prevent destruction of the additional storage device by an output signal from the interface circuit. The system further comprises output prohibiting means for prohibiting signal output of the interface circuit during a period from when the power of the system is turned on to when the operating power supply voltage detecting means detects the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device. The information processing system according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. The additional storage device has an output terminal that is grounded or opened according to the type of operating power supply voltage, and the operating power supply voltage detecting means detects the potential of the output terminal. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the operating power supply voltage of the additional storage device is detected as a first power supply voltage or a second power supply voltage. 4. An information processing system having an information processing apparatus main body and a peripheral device mounted on the information processing apparatus main body and driven by a power source supplied from the information processing apparatus main body, wherein the information processing apparatus main body is Operating power supply voltage detection for detecting whether the operating power supply voltage of the peripheral device mounted on the information processing device body is the first power supply voltage or the second power supply voltage having a lower value than the first power supply voltage. Means and a power supply voltage switching means for selecting one of the first and second power supply voltages according to the detection result of the operating power supply voltage detection means and supplying the selected power supply voltage to the peripheral device. An information processing system characterized by the above.