JPH09319471A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device in which power consumption can be effectively saved and the turning-off of a power source is prevented from being forgotten by surely detecting whether an operator exists or not. SOLUTION: All the key tops of a keyboard 2 are provided with piezoelectric sensors for detecting the presence/absence of their operations. This device is provided with a piezoelectric sensor signal detection circuit 3 for sensing detecting signals from these piezoelectric sensors when the operator performs key inputs, caution message equipment 7 for measuring a time interval between the detecting signal at a certain time point and the detecting signal to next arrive and generating a power source OFF signal when the time interval becomes time over, and switch 5 to be operated by this power source OFF signal so as to disconnect a power source circuit 4 and a display 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device having means for saving power consumption and preventing forgetting to turn off the power source, and more particularly to an electronic device equipped with a central processing unit, a storage device, a keyboard and a display, which is suitable for a so-called personal computer. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of electronic apparatus, the operator controls the power supply circuit such that the operator turns on the switch when the operator is using the switch and turns it off when the operator is not using the operator. Therefore, if the operator leaves the seat with the power on and forgets that the power is on even though the operator is not using the device, the problem of wasting power consumption There is.

A power supply control method for solving such a problem is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-19905. In this method, the presence or absence of an operator is detected by a sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) provided on the display of a personal computer to save power consumption and prevent forgetting to turn off the power.

As means for this purpose, a sensor provided on the display, a sensor information registration means for registering timer information, a sensor timer monitoring means for monitoring the presence or absence of an operator through the sensor, and a timer when the time is over It has a job status inquiry means for checking the presence / absence of a job in the apparatus, and a power on / off instruction means for instructing whether the power is on or off according to the job status.

In this system, a sensor is provided on the display so that the timer information instructed is registered in the personal computer. The presence / absence of an operator is monitored through a sensor provided on the display, and if the absence of the operator is over the time limit, the presence / absence of a job is checked in the apparatus, and there is no active job. If so, turn off the entire device, and if there is, turn off only the display. Further, it has a function of inputting the power supply of the display when the operator is detected by the sensor provided in the display with the power supply of only the display being cut off.

[0006]

However, in the above method, the sensor for detecting the presence of the operator is provided on the display of the personal computer, and the operator does not directly touch the sensor. There is a case to be mistakenly sensed as.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of reliably detecting the presence or absence of an operator and effectively saving power consumption and preventing forgetting to turn off the power supply.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in an electronic device having a keyboard and a display, all the key tops of the keyboard are provided with a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of operation thereof, and an operator inputs a key. When doing, the sensor signal detection circuit that detects the sensor signal from the sensor, and the time interval between a certain sensor signal and the sensor signal that arrives next is measured, and when the time interval is over, a power-off signal And a switch means for operating in response to the power supply disconnection signal to disconnect the connection between the power supply circuit and the display.

When the time interval is over, the warning message means first warns the operator that a power-off signal will be generated, and when the sensor signal does not arrive after a certain time, the warning message means Generates a power-off signal.

Further, the sensor is preferably a piezoelectric sensor.

[0011]

In the present invention, the presence of an operator can be reliably detected by the presence or absence of key operation by providing a key input sensor for each key on the keyboard.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a control circuit unit, 2 is a keyboard, 3 is a piezoelectric sensor signal detection circuit, 4 is a power supply circuit, 5 is a switch, 6 is a display, and 7 is a warning message device. The piezoelectric sensor signal detection circuit 3 is connected between the control circuit unit 1 and the keyboard 2, the switch 5 is connected between the power supply circuit 4 and the display 6, and the warning message device 7 is connected to the piezoelectric sensor signal detection circuit 3. It is connected to the switch 5.

In the present embodiment, each of the key tops 21 of the keyboard 2 has a piezoelectric sensor 22 as shown in FIG.
However, this sensor may be of another type. The piezoelectric sensor signal detection circuit 3 detects a piezoelectric sensor signal from the piezoelectric sensor when the operator touches any key top of the keyboard 2.

The warning message device 7 measures the time interval between a certain piezoelectric sensor signal and the piezoelectric sensor signal that arrives next, and when this time interval is over, first a power-off signal is generated. To the operator. Further, if the piezoelectric sensor signal is not detected within a certain time after the warning, a power-off signal is generated and the switch 5 is opened. The switch 5 is opened only when the power-off signal is generated in the warning message device 7, and cuts the power supply from the power circuit 4 to the display 6. The warning message device 7 may generate a power-off signal immediately when the time interval of the piezoelectric sensor signal exceeds a certain time.

Next, the operation of this electronic device will be described. The warning message device 7 first measures the time interval from when the electronic device is powered on until the piezoelectric sensor signal is detected by the operator through the keyboard 2. Depending on the state of the display 6, it may be difficult to suddenly cut off the power supply, so if this time exceeds a certain period of time, the warning message device 7 first issues an alarm such as a power-off signal. To warn the operator.
Furthermore, the piezoelectric sensor signal detection circuit 3
When the piezoelectric sensor signal is not detected at, the warning message device 7 generates a power-off signal to open the switch 5, thereby cutting off the power supply from the power supply circuit 4 to the display 6.

When the piezoelectric sensor signal is detected by the piezoelectric sensor signal detection circuit 3 within a fixed time after the warning,
The switch 5 is kept closed (the power supply is not cut off), and the input signal from the keyboard 2 is transmitted to the control circuit unit 1 as it is.

For the second and subsequent piezoelectric sensor signals detected by the piezoelectric sensor signal detection circuit 3 after the power is turned on, the time interval between the piezoelectric sensor signal and the next piezoelectric sensor signal is measured. To operate.

In this way, the time interval of key input by the piezoelectric sensor signal is measured, and when the time is over, a warning is issued, and when the time is over again, the power supply to the display is cut off. It can be prevented from being used.

[0019]

According to the present invention, one on the keyboard
By installing a sensor on two key tops and cutting off the power supply when it detects that there is no key input for a certain period of time, the presence of the operator can be reliably detected and effective power saving and power It is possible to realize prevention of forgetting to turn off.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal structure of each key top on the keyboard shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Circuit Section 2 Keyboard 3 Piezoelectric Sensor Signal Detection Circuit 4 Power Supply Circuit 5 Switch 6 Display 7 Warning Message Device 21 Keytop 22 Piezoelectric Sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device comprising a keyboard and a display, wherein all the key tops of the keyboard are provided with sensors for detecting the presence / absence of operation thereof, and when an operator performs a key input, A sensor signal detection circuit that detects a sensor signal, a warning message means that measures a time interval between a sensor signal and a sensor signal that arrives next, and generates a power-off signal when the time interval is over, An electronic device comprising: a switch unit that operates according to the power-off signal to disconnect the connection between the power supply circuit and the display. 2. The warning message means first warns the operator that a power-off signal will be generated when the time interval is over, and further when the sensor signal does not arrive after a certain time. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a power-off signal is generated. 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a piezoelectric sensor.