KR19990036679A - Devices, Computers, and Methods to Display System Usage Time - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus, a computer, and a method for displaying a system usage time. The present invention relates to a computer having a RAM, a display controller, and a monitor.

A storage unit having a control program and a time storage area; A central processing unit for outputting a control signal to display time data of a time used by the system stored in the storage unit, according to a control program of the storage unit when using the system; And a display unit for receiving the control signal of the central processing unit and displaying the time corresponding to the time data stored in the storage unit, wherein the actual time used for the electronic products including the computer and the television is turned on. An apparatus, a computer, and a method for displaying a system usage time, by displaying a time of using the product, and measuring the life of the product.

Description

Devices, Computers, and Methods to Display System Usage Time

The present invention relates to an apparatus, a computer, and a method for displaying a system usage time. More specifically, the present invention relates to a computer, a television, and an electronic device including an actual time used, that is, a total time used for the product. A device, a computer, and a method for indicating a system usage time for measuring a product's lifespan.

In general, a car has a odometer, so you can see the distance you actually traveled. Therefore, oil and consumables that need to be changed according to the mileage are exchanged.

However, the computer can know the year of manufacture but not the time actually used. In general, when measuring the life of the product and Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF), etc., it is inconvenient to check the time until failure or error occurs while operating the product. In the case of a product, it is impossible to know the total time of actually using the product, and thus, there is a disadvantage in that the usable time cannot be predicted.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks of the prior art, by accumulating and displaying the use time of the product on the product by using the system so that the user can know the degree of wear of the product, or can predict the usable time, etc. It is to provide a device, a computer and a method for displaying.

1 is a block diagram of a computer displaying system usage time according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an external view of a computer displaying the system usage time according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a detailed view of a display unit in a computer displaying the system usage time according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

4 is another configuration diagram of a display unit in a computer for displaying a system use time according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a computer displaying the system usage time according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a block diagram of an apparatus for displaying a system usage time according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an operation flowchart of a computer displaying the system usage time according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a computer displaying the system usage time according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an exemplary diagram showing system usage time in a third embodiment;

Fig. 10 is an operation flowchart of a computer displaying the system usage time according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The configuration of the present invention to achieve the above object,

In a computer having a RAM, a display controller, and a monitor,

A storage unit having a control program and a time storage area;

A central processing unit for updating the time data for a time used by the system stored in the storage unit at a predetermined time and outputting a control signal to display the updated time data according to a control program of the storage unit when using the system; ;

And a display unit for receiving a control signal of the central processing unit and displaying a time corresponding to the time data stored in the storage unit.

Another configuration of the present invention to achieve the above object,

Displaying time data that is information about the total time the system is used;

Checking the time every predetermined time, updating and storing the time data, and displays the updated time data.

When described with reference to the accompanying drawings the most preferred embodiment which can implement this invention by the above configuration as follows. Hereinafter, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

1 is a block diagram of a computer displaying system usage time according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

2 is an external view of a computer displaying the system usage time according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a detailed view of a display unit in a computer displaying system usage time according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

4 is another configuration diagram of a display unit in a computer displaying system usage time according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a block diagram of a computer displaying system usage time according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a block diagram of an apparatus for displaying a system usage time according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is an operation flowchart of a computer displaying the system usage time according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the configuration of the computer displaying the system usage time according to the first embodiment of the present invention is

RAM 2 which is a temporary memory device;

A monitor 12 for displaying information;

A display controller (9) for controlling the monitor;

A hard disk drive 8 which stores an operating program (OS), a control program 10 and the like, and has a time storage area 11;

An ID for controlling the hard disk drive 8 and a controller 7;

When the system 20 is used, the ID controls the controller 7 to update the time data stored in the time storage area 11 of the hard disk drive 8 every hour and to display the updated time data. A central processing unit (1) for outputting a signal;

And a visible fluorescent display 5 having a microcomputer 6 therein and receiving the control signal of the central processing unit 1 and displaying the time.

The operation of the computer displaying the system usage time according to the first embodiment of the present invention by the above configuration is as follows.

When power is first applied by the user, the computer starts to display the system usage time according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

When the operation starts, the central processing unit 1 reads the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) of the ROM 3 and performs a POST (Power On Self Test) process, and then the ID is executed by the controller 7. Control to boot the computer with the operating program (OS) in the hard disk drive (8). At this time, the monitor 1 displays the information on the screen under the control of the display controller 9.

Next, the central processing unit 1 reads and executes the control program 10 in the hard disk drive 8 into the RAM 2.

Next, the central processing unit 1 initializes the input / output port, and the ID controls the controller 7 to send the time data currently stored in the time storage area 11 to the visible fluorescent display 5. Then, the microcomputer 6 of the visible fluorescent display device 5 converts the time data indicating the total time used by the system into a number and displays it on the screen of the visible fluorescent display device 5 (S1). 3 shows a state in which a number, that is, a time using a product, is displayed on the visible fluorescent display device 5. The visible fluorescent display 5 is located at the front of the system 20, as shown in FIG.

Next, the central processing unit 1 refers to the time information on the Real Time Clock (RTC) chip, and substitutes a reference time, that is, the time at which the computer is started using, into an arbitrary variable (A) (S2), Further, the current time, that is, the time currently changed from the reference time, is substituted into another arbitrary variable B (S3). Where B continues to change over time, ie, as the program repeats.

Next, the central processing unit 1 checks whether the absolute value of the difference between A and B is one hour. That is, it is checked whether the user has used the system 20 for one hour or more (S4).

When the absolute value of the difference between A and B is one hour, the central processing unit 1 updates the time data of the time storage area 11 by one hour, and displays the updated time on the visible fluorescence display device 5. Afterwards (S5), the current time is substituted into the above A time to change the A time (S6), check whether there is a power-off command (S7), and if the absolute value of the difference between A and B is less than 1 hour In step S7, it is checked whether there is a power-off command.

Next, if there is a power off command, the program ends, powers off, and if there is no power off command, the time check is repeated.

In the above process, the visible fluorescent display device 5 can express a maximum of 999999 hours (hr), which is enough to indicate the time of using the computer, which can be adjusted as necessary.

In FIG. 4, the display device 40 is configured by using the 7-segment LED instead of the visible fluorescent display device 5.

As shown in Fig. 4, the configuration of the display device 40 using the 7-segment LED is

An address decoder 41 for decoding a specific address among the addresses SA0 to SA10 outputted from the central processing unit 1 through the system bus 4;

A latch unit 50 for latching data corresponding to the specific address when a clock signal decoded by the address decoder 41 is input;

A data decoder unit 51 for converting binary data, which is output data of the latch unit 50, into a nuclear value (HEX) value;

A seven-segment display device 52 for receiving the output signal from the data decoder 51 and displaying data is provided.

The central processing unit 1 is characterized in that the control to output a specific address corresponding to the time data and the data corresponding to the specific address through the system bus (4).

The operation of the display device 40 according to the above configuration is as follows.

First, when a specific address is input from the central processing unit 1 to the address decoder 41 through the address buses SA0 to SA10 of the system bus 4, the address decoder 41 sends a clock signal to the latch unit 50. Output

Then, the first latch 42 and the second latch 43 latch the data corresponding to the specific addresses SA0 to SA10 through the data buses SD0 to SD10.

Then, the first decoder 44, the second decoder 45, the third decoder 46, and the fourth decoder 47 of the data decoder unit 51 nucleate corresponding binary data Q1 to Q8, respectively. Convert to a cheap value and print it out.

Then, the first segment 48 and the second segment 49 of the seven segment display device 52 display the data numerically.

In addition to such a display device, it is also possible to configure the display unit using a liquid crystal display device or other light emitting diodes.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, the configuration of the computer for displaying the system usage time according to the second embodiment of the present invention,

A ROM 3 incorporating a BIOS and incorporating a control program 10;

An IC chip 13 having a time storage region 11;

RAM 2 as a storage device;

A monitor 12 for displaying information;

A display controller (9) for controlling the monitor;

A hard disk drive 15 having an operating program (OS);

An ID for controlling the hard disk drive 15 and a controller 7;

A central processing unit (1) for controlling the display of the time by updating the time stored in the time storage area (11) of the RTC chip (13) when using the system (20);

And a visible fluorescent display 5 having a microcomputer 6 therein and receiving the control signal of the central processing unit 1 and displaying the time.

As can be seen from the above configuration, in the computer displaying the system usage time according to the second embodiment, the position of the control program 10 and the time storage area 11 in the hard disk drive 8 in the first embodiment is ROM. (3) and ALTC chip (13).

In the operation of the second embodiment, the central processing unit 1 reads the control program 10 from the ROM 3, and the time data is stored in the time storage area 10 of the RTC chip 14, and the remaining operations are performed. same.

In addition, as shown in Figure 6, the configuration of the apparatus for displaying the system usage time according to an embodiment of the present invention,

The control program 63 is built into the ROM 64, the time storage area 62 is included in the nonvolatile memory 67, and the time storage area 62 is provided every time one hour has elapsed while the system is powered on. A second microcomputer (61) for updating a system use time stored in the control panel and outputting a control signal to display the same;

The display device includes a visible fluorescent display device 69 which receives a control signal of the second microcomputer 61 and displays a system usage time.

As can be seen from the above configuration, the apparatus for displaying the system use time according to the embodiment of the present invention has the same basic configuration as the first embodiment, and the position of the components is only slightly changed. This embodiment can be conveniently used because the microcontroller updates the data stored in the time storage area 62 and displays the updated data on the visible fluorescence display device 69 with a simple configuration. Therefore, it can be widely applied to various electronic products such as television, radio, audio, and the like.

8 is a block diagram of a computer displaying system usage time according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

9 is an exemplary view of a monitor screen displaying system usage time in a third embodiment;

10 is an operation flowchart of a computer displaying the system usage time according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 8, the configuration of the computer displaying the system usage time according to the third embodiment of this invention is

A ROM 81 incorporating a BIOS, a time storage area 82, and a control program 83;

An IC chip 13 having information on time;

RAM 2 as a storage device;

A monitor 12 for displaying information;

A display controller (9) for controlling the monitor;

A hard disk drive 15 having an operating program (OS);

An ID for controlling the hard disk drive 15 and a controller 7;

A central processing unit (84) for updating the time stored in the time storage area (82) of the ROM (81) upon normal completion after using the system (20) and displaying the time when a setup command is input;

It comprises a monitor 12 for receiving the control signal of the central processing unit 1, and displays the system use time.

The operation of the computer according to the third embodiment of the present invention by the above configuration is as follows.

First, when power is applied by the user, the operation of the computer displaying the system usage time according to the third embodiment of the present invention is started.

When the operation starts, the central processing unit 84 reads the BIOS of the ROM 3 and performs the post process, and then the ID controls the controller 7 to the operating program (OS) in the hard disk drive 8. Boot your computer. At this time, the monitor 1 displays the information on the screen under the control of the display controller 9.

Next, the central processing unit 84 reads the control program 83 in the ROM 81 into the RAM 2 and executes it.

Next, the CPU 84 initializes the input / output port, checks whether the CMOS time domain flag of the RTC chip 14 is 0 (S101), and if the flag is not 0, the ROM 81 In step S102, the time T of the time storage region 82 is left as it is.

Next, the flag is set to 1 (S103).

Next, the central processing unit 84 reads the current time and stores it in the CMOS data area (S105).

Next, the central processing unit 84 determines whether the setup key is pressed by the user (S105), and if the setup key is pressed, executes the setup menu (S106), and controls the display controller 9 to monitor the monitor 12. A screen as shown in Fig. 9 is displayed (S107). As shown in Fig. 9, the setup information easily includes information on the total use time of the system.

Next, the central processing unit 84 returns to the original screen when an instruction EXIT is issued to return to the original screen (S108).

Next, the central processing unit 84 performs a predetermined operation by a user's key input, and when the end of Windows 95 is input (S109), the time M is read (S110), and the operating time C is calculated. (S111). At this time, the operating time (C) is the system use time, that is, the current time (M) minus the time (L) at the start of the system.

Next, the central processing unit 84 adds the operating time C to the total system use time T stored in the time storage area 82 of the ROM 81 (S112), and sets the CMOS flag to zero. Setting (S113) and all the work will be finished.

In the third embodiment, the total operating time of the system is updated when the system is shut down, which does not slow down the system working speed. The total information of the system is displayed in the setup information so that the user can easily know when the system is used. have. In addition, a separate display device such as a visible fluorescent display device is not required.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, by accumulating and displaying the use time of the product, the user can know the total use time of the product, thereby having the advantage that can predict the usable time, etc. of the product, An apparatus, a computer, and a method for displaying system usage time can be provided.

This effect of the invention is helpful in the sale of used products and can be used to measure the life of the components that make up the product. In addition, since the time of use of the product can be known, the used parts can be replaced at an appropriate time.

Claims (7)

In a computer having a RAM, a display controller and a monitor, A storage unit having a control program and a time storage area; Central processing for updating the time data representing the total time used by the system stored in the storage unit at regular intervals according to a control program of the storage unit when using the system, and outputting a control signal to display the updated time data. An apparatus; And a display unit for receiving a control signal of the central processing unit and displaying a time corresponding to time data stored in the storage unit. The method of claim 1, And the storage unit stores a control program and is a hard disk drive having a time storage area. In the computer, A storage unit having a control program and a time storage area; A central processing unit that displays the total usage time of the system stored in the storage unit as setup information according to a control program of the storage unit, and updates the total system usage time when the system is normally shut down; ; And a display unit for receiving a control signal of the central processing unit and displaying a time corresponding to time data stored in the storage unit. Displaying time data that is information about the total time the system is used; Checking the time every predetermined time, updating and storing the time data, and displaying the updated time data. The method of claim 4, wherein Updating and displaying the time data may include: And updating the time data every hour after the system is powered on, and terminating the program if there is a power off command. Storing a start time at startup of the system; Updating the total usage time by adding up the total usage time by subtracting the start time from the time at which the system normally ends, and updating the total usage time. The method of claim 6, When the setup key is pressed, the system further includes displaying the total usage time used in the setup information for display.