KR19990084902A - Peripheral Locking Device and Method in Computer System Using Locking Door - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a peripheral device lock and a method thereof in a computer system using a locking door. A peripheral device locking method according to the present invention in a computer system having a door that protects a plurality of peripheral devices detachably mounted inside a computer through a device bay from the outside of the computer, includes: (a) detecting whether main power is on; (b) generating a first door opening control signal so that the locking door installed to surround the peripheral device on the front part of the computer main body in which the peripheral device is located when the main power is turned on is opened to the boot drive among the peripheral devices; and (c) the peripheral device. (D) generating a second door open control signal to completely open the lock door if the password matches a predetermined password; and (e) Detecting that the main power is off after the computer has booted, and (f) helping to close the locking door when the main power is off. And a step for generating a closing control signal.

Description

Peripheral Device Locking Device and Method in Computer System Using Locking Door

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer, and more particularly, to a peripheral device locking method and method thereof in a computer system using a locking door.

Computers in general use, in particular desktop computers, have auxiliary storage as peripheral devices. Currently, hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives, and the like are designed to be removable in most cases, which can be usefully used to improve computer performance. Also, U.S.B. Peripherals in the device bay concept that are easily removable by using ports can also be developed. If necessary, only hard disk drives can be replaced. In other words, in recent years, desktop computers are equipped with peripheral devices such as hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, CD-ROM drives, and digital multi-function disk drives, depending on the type, but are detachably mounted. It is expected to be.

Expensive peripherals are included among a plurality of peripheral devices of a device bay concept detachably mounted to a computer main body, and each peripheral device is easily removable by anyone, and may be used interchangeably with other computers. Therefore, it is necessary to protect it from being easily discharged to the outside when the user does not want it, and also to prevent theft and damage. Conventional computer bodies have predetermined doors provided to enclose a plurality of peripheral devices mounted on the front part thereof, but these doors have no function other than aesthetic or dust film, and are also operated manually. Accordingly, a need exists for a locking device and method that can substantially lock a removable peripheral device.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is a computer system that easily locks a removable peripheral device and prevents theft by automatically driving a locking door that protects the peripheral device according to power on / off or confirmation of a password. To provide a peripheral lock device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for locking a peripheral device in a computer system, which the locking device performs.

1 (a) and (b) are views showing the appearance of a computer main body having a locking door.

2 is a view showing a door and the door lock for locking in the computer main body.

3 is a schematic block diagram of a peripheral device lock according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart for describing a method of locking a peripheral device according to an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

5 is a schematic block diagram of a peripheral device lock according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for describing a method of locking a peripheral device according to an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for describing a method of locking a peripheral device according to another exemplary embodiment performed by the apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

8 (a) and (b) are diagrams showing the opening of the first and second stage doors.

In order to achieve the above object, the peripheral device lock device in a computer system having a plurality of peripheral devices, the door is installed to surround the peripheral device on the front portion of the computer main body in which the peripheral device is located, the door open / And a drive unit for enabling the door to be in an open state or a closed state in response to the microcomputer generating the close control signal and the door open / close control signal.

In order to achieve the above another object, as a preferred embodiment, a peripheral device locking method in a computer system having a plurality of peripherals and a door for protecting them comprises the steps of: (a) detecting whether main power is on; and (b) And when the main power is turned on, generating a door open control signal to open a door installed to surround the peripheral device on the front portion of the computer main body in which the peripheral device is located.

In addition, to achieve the above another object, as another preferred embodiment, the peripheral device locking method according to the present invention, (a) detecting whether the main power is on, (b) the computer is the peripheral device is located when the main power is on Generating a step 1 door open control signal so that a door installed to surround the peripheral device on the front part of the main body can be opened to a step 1 position; and (c) receiving and checking a password from a user to confirm the permission of the peripheral device. And (d) generating a two-step door open control signal so that the door can be opened to a two-stage position if the password matches the predetermined password.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the configuration and operation of the peripheral device locking device and the locking method in the computer system according to the present invention will be described.

1 (a) and (b) are views showing the appearance of a computer main body 100 having a locking door, where 110 is a plurality of peripheral devices, such as a floppy disk drive, detachably mounted inside a computer through a device bay. 112, the hard disk drive 114, the CD-ROM disk drive 116, the digital multifunction disk drive 118, and 120 represents a lock door.

Peripheral device locking device and method of the present invention automatically opens the locking door 120 is installed as shown in Figure 1 (a) to surround the peripheral device on the front portion of the computer body 100 in which the peripheral device is located, Figure 1 It is for driving to close as shown in (b). The locking doors shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are sandwiched between a front portion of the computer body 100 and a device bay recessed from the front portion, and the locking door is shown in the side of the figure, not shown. It can be moved up and down along the guide rail. The shape of the locking door is only one embodiment, it may be implemented in another shape to cover the peripheral device.

2 is a view showing a door and the door lock for locking in the computer main body.

Referring to FIG. 2, the locking door 220 is moved downward in a state in which the peripheral device 210 is unlocked, that is, the locking door 220 is opened. Locking door 220 is automatically driven by the door drive in the present invention. The door driver includes a guide rail 232 and a motor and a gearbox 234 for driving the guide rail 232. The motor and the gearbox 234 are driven in response to a control signal generated from a microcomputer (not shown) under predetermined conditions to lock or unlock the peripheral device, and the locking door 220 is moved along the guide rail 232. Move it.

3 is a schematic block diagram of a peripheral device lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which includes a microcomputer 302, a door driver 304, and a lock door 306.

Peripheral device locking device according to the present invention as a preferred embodiment simply detects the on / off of the main power to automatically drive the lock door for protecting the peripheral device. Referring to FIG. 3, the microcomputer 302 detects when the main power 300 is turned on by pressing a power switch and generates a door open control signal. In addition, when the main power 300 is off, it detects this to generate a door closing control signal. The door driver 304 drives the locking door 306 to open as shown in FIG. 2 in response to the door opening control signal generated from the microcomputer 302. On the other hand, in response to the door closing control signal, the locking door 306 is driven to close. In the present invention, the door driving unit directly starts to drive the door in an open / closed state, but may be configured to release the lock so that the user can manually open the door upon receiving the open control signal from the microcomputer.

Additionally, if necessary, a lock key (not shown) may be further included in the front of the computer body so that the user can close the lock door while using the computer or open the lock door after the main power is turned off. have.

4 is a flowchart for describing a method of locking a peripheral device according to an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is first detected. First, it is detected whether main power is turned on (operation 400). When the main power is turned on, a door open control signal is generated to open the lock door (step 402). After that, the process proceeds to the computer booting step (step 404). That is, the lock door is controlled to open as soon as main power is supplied to the computer system. After booting the computer, it is detected whether the main power is turned off (step 406). When the main power is off, a door closing control signal is generated to close the locking door (step 408). Similarly, the locking door at this time is controlled to close as soon as main power supplied to the computer system is cut off.

5 is a schematic block diagram of a peripheral device lock according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which includes a microcomputer 502, a password checker 504, a door driver 506, and a lock door 508. FIG. .

The peripheral device locking device according to the present invention automatically drives the locking door for protecting the peripheral device according to the confirmation of the password as another preferred embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, the apparatus further includes a password checker 504 as compared to the apparatus shown in FIG. 3. The peripheral device locking apparatus according to the present invention having the password checker 504 may operate according to two embodiments as follows.

In one embodiment, the microcomputer 502 detects that the main power 500 is turned on by the user pressing the power switch, and further confirms the result of the password checker 504, and then controls the door opening if the password is matched. Generate a signal. The password checker 504 requests a user to confirm a user's right to use a peripheral device before the computer is booted when the main power 500 is turned on and the power is supplied. Accordingly, the password input from the user is predetermined. Check if it matches the password.

At this time, if the password is not checked by the password checker 504, the microcomputer 502 controls the computer not to proceed to the booting step. After the computer is booted, the microcomputer 502 also detects that the main power supply 500 is off and generates a door closing control signal. Like the door driver 304 shown in FIG. 3, the door driver 506 drives the door 508 to open in response to the door open control signal generated from the microcomputer 502, and responds to the door close control signal. The lock door 508 is driven to close.

As described above, the peripheral device lock using the password checker 504 is configured to boot the computer after confirming the password. At this time, the booting of the computer proceeds immediately after the door open control signal is generated. Therefore, if it is impossible to boot due to a hard disk failure when the door is not opened, the user should wait until the door is completely opened before using the floppy disk drive.

As another embodiment for preventing such a case, the microcomputer 502 generates the first door open control signal once the main power supply 500 is turned on, and checks the result of the password check unit 504 to open the second door. Generate a control signal further. In this case, the door driver 506 drives the locking door 508 to be partially opened in response to the first door opening control signal, and drives the locking door 508 to be completely opened in response to the second door opening control signal. do. That is, when the first door open control signal is generated, the locking door 508 is partially opened so that the user can use a floppy disk drive as a boot drive among peripheral devices, and when the second door open control signal is generated, the lock door 508 is fully open. Therefore, even if it is impossible to boot beyond the hard drive, the user can boot the computer using the floppy disk drive in a short time.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for describing a method of locking a peripheral device according to an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the operation of the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5 will be first detected. First, whether main power is turned on (operation 600). When the main power is turned on, the user inputs and checks a password for confirming the permission of the peripheral device (step 604). If the password matches the predetermined password (step 606), a door opening control signal is generated to open the lock door (step 608). If the password is confirmed, the computer boots (step 610). After booting the computer, it is detected whether the main power is turned off (step 612). When the main power is off, a door closing control signal is generated to close the locking door (step 614).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for describing a method of locking a peripheral device according to another exemplary embodiment performed by the apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 7, operation of another embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is detected. In operation 700, it is detected whether main power is turned on. When the main power is turned on, a first door open control signal is generated to open the lock door to a floppy disk drive which is a boot drive among peripheral devices (operation 702). At this time, the locking door is partially opened in one step according to the first door opening control signal. In operation 704, a user inputs and checks a password for confirming the permission of the peripheral device. If the password matches the predetermined password (step 706), a second door opening control signal is generated to completely open the lock door (step 708). At this time, the lock door is completely opened in two steps according to the second door opening control signal. If the password is confirmed, the computer boots (step 710). In operation 710, the main power is turned off after the computer is booted. When the main power is turned off, a door closing control signal is generated to close the locking door (step 714).

8 (a) and (b) are diagrams showing the opening of the first and second stage doors.

When the locking door 820 is partially opened in one step according to the first door opening control signal in operation 702 of FIG. 7, the locking door 820 is located in the front part of the computer main body 800 as shown in FIG. Among the peripheral devices, only the floppy disk drive 812 corresponding to the boot drive is unlocked. Meanwhile, when the locking door 820 is completely opened in two steps according to the second door opening control signal in operation 708 of FIG. 7, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, a plurality of peripheral devices 810, for example, Floppy disk drive 812, hard disk drive 814, CD-ROM disk drive 816, and digital multifunction disk drive 818 are all unlocked.

Up to now, the peripheral device locking apparatus according to the present invention has been described by way of example. Here, the shape or the size of the computer body, the locking door and the door driver, etc., although one example, will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations are easy.

As described above, the peripheral device locking device and method in the computer system according to the present invention are removable by automatically driving the lock door that protects the peripheral device according to the on / off of the main power source or the confirmation of the password. It has the advantage of easily locking the peripherals and preventing theft.

Claims (5)

In a peripheral device lock in a computer system having a plurality of peripherals, A door installed to surround the peripheral device on the front portion of the computer body in which the peripheral device is located; A microcomputer that detects on / off of main power and generates a door open / close control signal; And And a drive unit for enabling the door to be in an open state or a closed state in response to the door open / close control signal. According to claim 1, The peripheral device lock device, And a password checker for requesting a password for enabling the user to check a usage right of the peripheral device when the main power is turned on, and checking whether an input from the user matches a predetermined password. The microcomputer detects the on of the main power, and further confirms the result of the password checker to generate the door open / close control signal. A method of locking a peripheral device in a computer system having a plurality of peripheral devices and a locking door for protecting them, (a) detecting whether main power is on; And and (b) generating a door open control signal to open a door installed to surround the peripheral device on the front portion of the computer main body in which the peripheral device is located when the main power is turned on. The method of claim 3, wherein step (b) comprises: (b1) checking and receiving a password from a user, the password enabling confirmation of the permission of the peripheral device when the main power is turned on; And and (b2) generating the door open control signal if the password matches a predetermined password. A method for locking a peripheral device in a computer system having a door that protects a plurality of peripheral devices from outside the computer, (a) detecting whether main power is on; (b) generating a one-step door open control signal so that a door installed to surround the peripheral device can be opened to a first step position when the main power is turned on; (c) receiving a password from a user and checking a password for confirming the use authority of the peripheral device; And and (d) generating a two-stage door opening control signal so that the door can be opened to a two-stage position if the password matches a predetermined password.