JPH0789307B2 - Portable computer - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable computer in which a keyboard unit and a display unit are integrated with a system body, and the display unit is attached to an edge of the system by a hinge so that the tilt angle can be varied.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, various portable computers such as laptop computers and handheld computers have been used.
Development commercialization of over data is active.

A feature of the portable computer is that the conventional small computer has a system main body, a display device, a keyboard, an external storage device and the like, which are built in independent housings, respectively. It may be integrated with the system body. Many of them are also integrated with an external storage device (often an FDD), and other options (for example, RS232C interface, modem, memory, etc.) can be incorporated. Also, the display device is a liquid crystal display (hereinafter LCD
Abbreviated) and many are using plasma displays.

Another structural feature is the display. During normal use, the display can be fixed at an angle that is easy for the user to see, and when carried, it will not fall over the keyboard (it will become the lid of the keyboard) and will not interfere with carrying, and protect the keyboard and LCD. It is also becoming.

[0005] A major electrical feature is that it can be driven by a battery. This makes mobile phones more free and usable anytime, anywhere.

However, there are some problems in the portable computers to date.

[0007] One of them is that the display part is hidden when being carried, so that it may not be noticed even if the user carries the device while it is powered on (in the operation mode) or accidentally powers it on while carrying it.

[0008] As a solution to this problem, a product is forced to operate by interlocking the lid with a power-on switch when the LCD is laid down on the keyboard (hereinafter referred to as "closing the lid"), that is, when carrying the LCD. I try to power it off.

Second, for example, when data is input at a certain place and the user wants to continue the work by closing the lid in the same state (data input mode) and moving to another place,
There is a high probability of malfunction due to abnormal keyboard input, etc. due to vibration shock during movement, and such usage is possible, but reliability was not guaranteed.

As described above, the product forcibly powered off when the lid is closed cannot be used for moving to another place as described above and continuing the work. FIG. 3 shows the external appearance of a portable computer having the above features. Figure 3
In the figure, (a) shows an unused (when carrying) state, and (b) shows a used state. In such a case, it is necessary to save the data in a floppy disk or the like, turn off the power, and load the data from the floppy disk again when the work is restarted. Further, in the conventional device configuration, it is impossible to determine the on / off state of the device power supply when the lid is closed.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when the device power is turned on and the display section is closed, the state is notified by a warning sound to turn off the device power. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable computer capable of avoiding inconveniences such as malfunctions and battery over-discharge caused by forgetting.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a portable computer in which a lid (display unit) is foldable, and the lid is under power-on state of equipment. A mechanism for detecting the closing operation state of the device and a mechanism for notifying the state by a warning sound are provided, and a warning sound is output when the display unit which is the lid is closed while the device is powered on. It is characterized by

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a portable computer having a retractable lid (display portion), it is possible to detect the closing operation state of the lid when the power of the device is turned on. , By providing a mechanism to notify that state by a warning sound,
It is possible to reliably avoid inconveniences such as malfunctions and battery over-discharge caused by forgetting to turn off the device power supply.

[0014]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, that describes <br/> an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the external appearance of a system of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure (a) shows an unused (carrying) state, and the figure (b) shows a use state. For comparison, FIG. 3 shows a system appearance of a conventional example.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a system main body, which is composed of a microprocessor, a memory, and various peripheral control LSIs. 2 is a keyboard unit. 3 is LC
The D unit has a hinge mechanism (not shown) at its lower end, and is rotatably coupled to the system body 1 via this hinge. By rotating the LCD unit as indicated by the arrow via the hinge, the tilt angle of the LCD unit 3 can be changed to an arbitrary angle. This is a characteristic of the LCD so that its display contrast and the like strongly depend on the viewing angle of the user, and when not in use (carrying), the keyboard unit 2 is covered so as not to disturb the carrying of the LCD.
It also has the effect of also protecting the. 4 is a floppy disk unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the portable computer shown in the embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard unit 2, an LCD unit 3, a floppy disk unit 4, etc. are integrally provided in a system body 1.

Reference numerals 101 and 102 are added according to the present invention, and 101 is a switch and 102 is a protrusion. These are because the LCD unit 3 is tilted to the keyboard unit 2 side (the LCD unit 3 is
The state of being closed as a lid body) is detected and an interrupt is notified to the system. The protrusion 102 is provided to surely operate the switch 101 when the LCD unit 3 is in such a state. Reference numeral 103 denotes a speaker incorporated in the housing, and when the lid (LCD unit 3) is closed, the speaker is drive-controlled in accordance with the interrupt and a warning sound is generated. Reference numeral 104 denotes a display lamp indicating that the power (system power supply) continues to be in the ON state with the lid (LCD unit 3) closed. 105
Is a power switch for controlling on / off of the system power supply.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the portable computer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 11 is a microprocessor that serves as a control center of the system, and 12 is a main memory in which programs and data are stored. The microprocessor 11 controls each unit to be connected based on the program stored in the main memory 12.

Reference numerals 13, 14, and 15 are input / output controllers, 13 is a keyboard controller for controlling the keyboard unit 2, 14 is a floppy disk controller, and 15 is a printer controller.

Reference numeral 16 is an interrupt controller. The interrupt controller 16 is the input / output controller 13, 1 described above.
The interrupt signals generated from lines 4 and 15 are sent to the lines 131,
In addition to receiving via 141 and 151, an interrupt is also received via the line 100 from the switch 101 added according to the present invention. Here, the interrupt priority is a <b <
It is assumed that c <d <e <f. That is, the interrupt signal a ...
Among f, here, the interrupt signal (f) by the operation of the switch 101 has the highest priority. Here, the interrupt signal subjected to priority control and traffic control (reception processing) is notified to the microprocessor 11 via the line 161.

Reference numeral 103 denotes the speaker shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 4 is a display lamp.

The microprocessor 11, main memory 12, keyboard controller 13, and floppy controller 16 are commonly connected to a system bus 17 having a plurality of lines for address / data control.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, the power switch 105 is
Here, the structure is such that the power can be turned on / off independently without interlocking with the lid (LCD unit 3). The newly added switch 101 issues a high-priority interrupt to the system body 1 when the lid (LCD unit 3) is closed while the power is on or when the switch 101 is manually pressed. . This interrupt continues to be issued while the switch 101 is pressed.

The system main body 1 receives the interrupt and performs the following operation.

First, it is notified that an interrupt has occurred (the LCD unit 3 serving as the lid is closed while the power is on). The informing means may be a means for driving the speaker 103 to ring, a means for driving the speaker 103 and the display lamp 104 in combination, and the like .

Further, when the above interrupt occurs, all input / output operations are prohibited. However, those with higher priority than this interrupt are excluded. Then, the status of this interrupt is monitored at any time, and it is detected that the lid (LCD unit 3) has been released, and this interrupt is released.

The above operation will be described in detail with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

First, when the lid (LCD unit 3) is closed, the switch 101 is turned on and the interrupt signal (f) having the highest priority is generated.

The interrupt controller 16 sends this interrupt to the microprocessor 11 via the signal line 161.

Upon receiving this interrupt, the microprocessor 11 checks the status of the interrupt controller 16 and when it is confirmed that the interrupt has the highest priority (when it is found that the LCD unit 3 serving as the lid is closed). ), A ~
All interrupts of d are prohibited, and the HALT state is instructed to each of the input / output controllers 13, 14 and 15.

At the same time, the speaker 103 is instructed to drive the ringing . Thus the speaker 103 Ru is ringing controlled by the control of the microprocessor 11 associated with the interrupt (f).

The microprocessor 11 also checks the status of the interrupt controller 16 at any time, and also releases the interrupt.

This prevents the power from being forgotten
You can

Although the mechanical operation switch 101 is provided in the embodiment of the present invention, for example, an optical means for blocking light by closing the lid (LCD unit 3) is used, and a photo sensor or the like is used as a switch. It is also possible to do so.
Furthermore, the present invention has been illustrated and described only one PC type as a portable computer, it is not limited to this but is also applicable to a word processing with a similar structure.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the device power is turned on and the display is closed, a mechanism for notifying the state by a warning sound can be surely prevented from forgetting to turn off the power, and malfunction of the device caused by forgetting to turn off the power, It is possible to reliably avoid inconveniences such as battery over-discharge. Since many portable computers are battery-powered, the present invention can be an important function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a conventional portable computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... System main body, 2 ... Keyboard unit, 3 ... LC
D unit (lid), 11 ... Microprocessor, 16 ...
Interrupt controller, 101 ... Switch, 103 ... Speaker.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A main body provided with a keyboard, a display unit attached to the main body, which is rotatable between a closed position for covering the keyboard and an open position for exposing the keyboard, and a power supply for the main body. located on state, when the display unit is rotated to the closed position from the open position, the portable con characterized by comprising output means for outputting a warning sound
Pewter .