JPH1011179A - Personal computer and power supply controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a personal computer capable of preventing a power supply from being turned off in error at the time of turning on it when a system is in a power saving mode. SOLUTION: When input operation through a keyboard 5 is interrupted over a prescribed period, a counting part 7 outputs a signal, and during the output of the signal from the counting part 7, a power supply control device 8 for a display device 9 interrupts power to be supplied from a body power supply 3 to the device 9. When a power supply switch 1 is depressed, a judging part 2 judges whether the counting part 7 outputs a signal or not, and only when the counting part 7 does not output a signal, transmits a signal indicating the depression of the switch 1 to the power supply 3. Since the depression of the switch 1 is invalidated in the interrupted state of power supply to the display device 9 by the control device 8, the power supply can be prevented from being turned off in error at the time of turning on it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a personal computer of, for example, a notebook type, and more particularly, to a computer system in a power saving mode.
The present invention relates to a personal computer that prevents the power from being turned off by mistake.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various portable personal computers called notebook type or palm top type have been developed. Most of these personal computers are configured to be able to operate with electric power supplied from a dry cell or a rechargeable secondary battery (hereinafter, referred to as a battery). For example, a personal computer can be used.

In such a personal computer,
Since the length of the operable time by the battery greatly affects the value as a product, power consumption is reduced every day. In order to reduce the power consumption, there is a power saving function for cutting off the power supplied to the display device provided in the personal computer when there is no key input for a predetermined period. The cutoff of power supply to the display device by the power saving function is released when the user presses any key, and the work performed before the cutoff of power supply is continued.
Effective power saving can be realized by simple control.

However, it is difficult for the user to determine at a glance whether the power supplied to the display device is cut off by the power saving function and the power supply of the computer itself is turned off. When the power supply to the display device is interrupted by the power saving function during document creation, a user (including a third party) misunderstands that the power of the computer itself is turned off, If the operation of turning on the power of the computer is performed, the power of the computer is actually turned off, and there is a problem that the document being created is lost.

In this method, the power of the computer is switched on / off each time the button is pressed (the power is turned off when pressed while the power is on, and the power is turned off when pressed when the power is off). This problem frequently occurs in personal computers equipped with a power switch of the type "ON".

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional personal computer, the power supplied to the display device is cut off by the power saving function, and the power of the computer itself is turned off. It is difficult for the user to determine the state at a glance, and when the power supplied to the display device is cut off by the power saving function, the user accidentally turns off the power of the computer body. Problem.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a personal computer that prevents the power from being accidentally turned off when the system is in a power saving mode by simply adding a simple configuration. It is an object to provide a computer and a power control method.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a personal computer operable with electric power supplied from a battery, and supplies the personal computer to a display device when an input operation is not performed for a predetermined period of time. In a personal computer having a power saving function of shutting off power, a switch for instructing power ON / OFF of the computer main body and power supplied to the display device are cut off by the power saving function. And control means for invalidating an instruction from the switch.

In the present invention, when the power supplied to the display device is cut off by the power saving function,
The control means invalidates the pressing of a switch (power switch) for instructing the power on / off of the computer main body. Therefore, in the computer system of the present invention, it is possible to turn off the power of the computer main body only when the display is being performed by the display device.

Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the power supply of the computer body is accidentally turned off when the power supply of the computer body is turned on, and the information being processed is lost. Not even.

When the power supplied to the display device is cut off by the power saving function, pressing the power switch is treated in the same manner as an input operation from a keyboard or the like.
It is preferable that the control means releases the power cutoff by the power saving function in response to the depression of the power switch.

With this, the user can recognize at that time that the power of the display device has been cut off by the power saving function, and can perform an operation such as pressing an arbitrary key on the keyboard again. It becomes unnecessary.

As a means for allowing the user to recognize that the power supplied to the display device has been cut off by the power saving function, for example, a warning sound is emitted from a speaker when a power switch is pressed. It is also effective.

Further, according to the present invention, even when the control means is in a state in which the power supplied to the display device is cut off by the power saving function, the switch is continuously operated within a predetermined period. It is characterized by comprising means for validating the instruction by the switch when pressed.

According to the present invention, for example, when the display by the display device is not performed, this is not the state where the power supply of the computer body is turned off, but the power supplied to the display device is a power saving function. By pressing the power switch continuously within a predetermined period of time, the user who can recognize that the state is interrupted by the user can be performed without having to perform an operation such as pressing an arbitrary key on the keyboard again. The power of the computer body can be turned off. In addition, if it is possible to set whether or not the switch is invalidated by the control means, the previous operability for an experienced user or the like is not impaired.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a computer system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a computer system according to the present embodiment includes a switch 1, a determination unit 2, a main body power supply 3, a microprocessor 4, a keyboard 5, an input detection unit 6, a counting unit 7, a display device power supply. It comprises a control device 8 and a display device 9.

The switch 1 is a pulse signal generator, and outputs a pulse signal (switch signal) when pressed by a user. When a switch signal is input from the switch 1, the determination unit 2 determines whether to output a pulse signal (determination signal) to that effect to the main power supply 3. This determination is made in accordance with the presence / absence of a signal output from the counting unit 7 described later. When it is determined that there is no signal output from the counting unit 7, it is determined that the signal output to the main body power supply 3 is performed. When there is an output, it is determined that the signal is not output to the main body power supply 3.

The main power supply 3 controls the power supply of the entire computer system, and switches on / off the power supply in accordance with a signal output from the determination unit 2. However, power supply to the display device 9 is performed via the display device power supply control device 8.

The microprocessor 4 controls the entire computer system, and executes and controls application programs including an operating system and a utility program. The keyboard 5 is a device for a user to input a command or the like.

The input detection unit 6 monitors the operation status of the keyboard 5 and outputs a pulse signal (input detection signal) when detecting that an input operation has been performed by the user.
The counting unit 7 is a retriggerable counting device, and continuously outputs a pulse signal (count-up signal) when the counted value exceeds a predetermined numerical value. When the input detection signal is output from the input detection unit 6, the counting unit 7 initializes the count value and restarts counting from the initial value (re-trigger).

The power supply control device 8 for the display device includes a main power supply 3.
And a display unit 9 provided between the
When the count-up signal is not output from the main body power supply 3, the power from the main body power supply 3 is supplied to the display device 9. Shut off the power to be supplied to the Then, the display device 9 performs various displays using the power supplied via the display device power supply control device 8.

That is, in the computer system of the present embodiment having such a configuration, after the input detection unit 6 detects an input operation of the keyboard 5, when the next input operation is not detected for more than a predetermined period. Then, a count-up signal is output from the counting unit 7, and as a result, the power to be supplied from the main body power supply 3 to the display device 9 is cut off by the display device power supply control device 8. While the count-up signal is being output from the counting unit 7,
Even if the switch 1 outputs a switch signal, the judging unit 2 sends a pulse signal (judgment signal) to the main power supply 3 to indicate the fact.
Is not output, and the power supply is not turned on / off by the main body power supply 3.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between signals in the computer system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the input (a) from the keyboard 5 is detected by the input detector 6, and an input detection signal is output (b). Also,
The counting section 7 starts counting when the input detection signal is output as an initial state. And the counting unit 7
Outputs a count-up signal continuously when the count value exceeds a predetermined numerical value (c).

While the count section 7 is outputting the count-up signal, the display device power supply control device 8 cuts off the power to be supplied from the main body power supply 3 to the display device 9.
As a result, the power supply to the display device 9 is interrupted, and as a result of the interruption of the display processing, power saving is achieved (d).

When a switch signal is output from the switch 1 while a count-up signal is being output (a state in which power supply to the display device 9 is cut off by the display device power control device 8) ( When the switch 1 is pressed by the user) (e), the determination unit 2 does not output the determination signal (f). On the other hand, when the switch signal is output from the switch 1 while the count-up signal is not output (e), the determination unit 2 outputs the determination signal (e). Then, the main body power supply 3 turns off the power supply of the entire computer system based on the output of the determination signal by the determination unit 2 (g).

Next, an operation procedure of the computer system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
Is a flowchart for explaining the output of the count-up signal, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the execution of the power-off.

In the computer system of the present embodiment,
It is detected whether or not an input operation has been performed from a keyboard or the like (Step A1 in FIG. 3). When it is detected that the input operation has been performed (Y in Step A1 in FIG. 3), the counter value is reset (Step A2 in FIG. 3). On the other hand, while it is not detected that the input operation has been performed (N in step A1 in FIG. 3), it is determined whether the counter value exceeds a preset threshold value (step A3 in FIG. 3). If the threshold value is exceeded (Y in step A3 in FIG. 3), a count-up signal is output (step A4 in FIG. 3).

On the other hand, when the switch is pressed (step B1 in FIG. 4), the computer system of the present embodiment
It is determined whether or not the count-up signal is output (step B2 in FIG. 4). Only when the count-up signal is not output (N in step B2 in FIG. 4), the power supply of the computer system is turned off (step B2 in FIG. 4). B
3).

Thus, it is possible to prevent the power of the computer from being accidentally turned off when the power of the computer is turned on. If the determination unit 2 outputs a determination signal regardless of the output of the count-up signal when the switch signal is continuously output from the switch 1 within a preset period, for example, the state of the computer system is changed. It is possible to improve the usability of the user who is aware. Further, if the validity / invalidity of the determination by the determination unit 2 can be set by environment setting information or the like, the conventional operability for an experienced user or the like is not impaired.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of a computer system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The difference between the computer system of the first embodiment and the computer system of the second embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 5, a switch signal output from the switch 1 is input to the input detection unit 6. Is a point.

That is, the pressing of the switch 1 and the input operation by the keyboard 5 are treated equally, so that the cutoff of the power supply from the main body power supply 3 to the display device 9 by the display device power supply control device 8 is released. The state of the computer system can be recognized at that time, and the main body power supply 3 can be obtained by pressing the next switch 1 without performing the input operation using the keyboard 5 again.
Can be terminated.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration of a computer system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The difference between the computer systems of the first and second embodiments and the computer system of the second embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. is there.

For example, when a switch signal is output from the switch 1 while the count-up signal is being output (the power supply to the display device 9 is cut off by the display device power control device 8) ( When the switch 1 is pressed by the user), the determination unit 2 does not output the determination signal, and at the same time, controls the driving of the speaker 10 to emit a warning sound to the user.

As a result, the user can immediately recognize that the computer system is in a state where the power supply to the display device 9 is cut off by the display device power supply control device 8.

[0038]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the power supplied to the display device is cut off by the power saving function, the power switch is invalidated. Is turned on, the power of the computer body is accidentally turned off, and the information being processed is not lost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view showing a schematic configuration of a computer system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing the relationship between signals in the computer system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining output of a count-up signal according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating execution of power-off according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Switch 2 ... Judgment part 3 ... Body power supply 4 ... Microprocessor 5 ... Keyboard 6 ... Input detection part 7 ... Counting part 8 ... Power supply control device for display devices 9 ... Display device 10 ... Speaker

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A personal computer operable by power supplied from a battery, comprising a power saving function for cutting off power supplied to a display device when an input operation is not performed for a predetermined period of time. A personal computer comprising: a switch for instructing power on / off of the computer main body; and an instruction by the switch when power supplied to the display device is cut off by the power saving function. A personal computer comprising control means for invalidating the personal computer. 2. The control means cancels the power cutoff by the power saving function when the switch is pressed down while the power supplied to the display device is cut off by the power saving function. The personal computer according to claim 1, comprising: 3. The power saving function includes a counter, a unit for initializing a counter value of the counter when an input operation is performed, a unit for counting up the counter value of the counter, and a counter value of the counter. Means for shutting off the power supplied to the display device when exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the control means cuts off the power supplied to the display device by the power saving function. 2. A personal computer according to claim 1, further comprising means for initializing a counter value of said counter when said switch is pressed in a state where said switch is pressed. 4. The apparatus further comprises a warning unit for issuing a warning to a user, wherein the control unit is configured to perform the operation when the switch is pressed while the power supplied to the display device is cut off by the power saving function. 2. The personal computer according to claim 1, further comprising means for operating said warning means. 5. The control means, when the switch is continuously pressed within a predetermined period even when the power supplied to the display device is cut off by the power saving function. And means for validating the instruction by the switch.
The personal computer according to 3 or 4. 6. The personal computer according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting whether or not said switch is invalidated by said control means. 7. A personal computer operable with electric power supplied from a battery, comprising a power saving function for shutting off electric power supplied to a display device when an input operation is not performed for a predetermined period of time. A power control method applied to the personal computer, comprising: determining whether power supplied to the display device is interrupted by the power saving function; and Disabling a switch for instructing power on / off of the computer main body when it is determined that the power is cut off by the power saving function.