TWI402669B - Power saving modules and the related computer systems and power saving methods - Google Patents

Description

Power saving control module and related computer system and power saving control method

The present invention relates to computer systems, and more particularly to a power saving device and method for a computer system.

Portable computer systems, such as notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) or mobile phones, rely on battery power to operate. Since the power supply of the battery is limited, if the battery is exhausted, the portable computer system will not be able to continue to use, so how to extend the use time of the portable computer system has been a trend. In addition to increasing the storage capacity of the battery, such computer systems can also achieve extended use time by various power saving methods. For example, a portable computer system can use a power-saving control device to turn off devices that are not needed, such as wireless networks or Bluetooth, to save power, thus extending the life of the portable computer system. .

In conventional computer systems, the method of turning off the wireless device controls the switching of the wireless device by tapping a button on the keyboard. When the wireless device control button is pressed to turn off the wireless device, the wireless device controller receives a dismount command from the keyboard and directly shuts down the wireless device. Conversely, when the wireless device control button is pressed to turn on the wireless device, the wireless device controller receives a connection command from the keyboard and directly turns on the wireless device. It can be seen that the method of turning off the wireless device in the conventional computer system only turns off the wireless device, but other related devices, such as the wireless device controller, or the connection device connecting the wireless device controller and the computer system, remain The on state allows a large amount of power to be consumed on these devices that are not needed after the wireless device is turned off, thereby shortening the time available for the computer system.

In view of this, the present invention provides a power saving control module for use in a computer system to solve the problems of the prior art. In one embodiment, the power saving control module includes a wireless device controller, a microcontroller, and a connecting device, wherein the wireless device controller further includes a logic circuit. The wireless device controller is connected to the microcontroller and a wireless device, and is connected to a computer by the connecting device. When a switch of the computer is pressed to turn off the wireless device, first, the logic circuit receives a dismount command (Detach) sent from the switch, and then the wireless device controller sends a system control interrupt (System Control Interrupt). Going to the microcontroller, then the microcontroller sends a shutdown command to the wireless device controller according to the system control interrupt, causing the wireless device controller to turn off the wireless device, the connection device and the microcontroller, and more Power in the wireless device controller other than the logic circuit. When the switch of the computer is pressed to turn on the wireless device, first, the logic circuit receives a connection command (Attach) sent from the switch, and then turns on the wireless device controller, and then the wireless device controller turns on. The wireless device interfaces with the device and resets the microcontroller.

The invention also provides a power saving control device. In one embodiment, the power saving control device includes a wireless device controller, a microcontroller, a connecting device, and a wireless device, wherein the wireless device controller further includes a logic circuit. The wireless device controller is coupled to the microcontroller and the wireless device and is coupled to a computer by the connection device. When a switch of the computer is pressed to turn off the wireless device, first, the logic circuit receives a dismount command sent from the switch, and then the wireless device controller sends a system control interrupt to the microcontroller, and then The microcontroller sends a shutdown command to the wireless device controller according to the system control interrupt, causing the wireless device controller to turn off the wireless device, the connection device, and the microcontroller, and further shutting down the wireless device controller. Power outside the logic circuit. When the switch of the computer is pressed to turn on the wireless device, first, the logic circuit receives a connection command sent from the switch, and then turns on the wireless device controller, and then the wireless device controller turns on the wireless device. Connect the device and reset the microcontroller.

The invention also provides a computer system. In one embodiment, the computer system includes a wireless device controller, a microcontroller, a connection device, a wireless device, and a computer, wherein the wireless device controller further includes a logic circuit, and the computer further includes a switch . The wireless device controller is coupled to the microcontroller and the wireless device and is coupled to the computer by the connection device. When the switch of the computer is pressed to turn off the wireless device, first, the logic circuit receives a dismount command sent from the switch, and then the wireless device controller sends a system control interrupt to the microcontroller, and then The microcontroller sends a shutdown command to the wireless device controller according to the system control interrupt, causing the wireless device controller to turn off the wireless device, the connection device, and the microcontroller, and further shutting down the wireless device controller. Power outside the logic circuit. When the switch of the computer is to be turned on to start the wireless device, first, the logic circuit receives a connection command sent from the computer switch, and then turns on the wireless device controller, and then the wireless device controller can turn on the wireless device controller. The wireless device and the connecting device can further reset the microcontroller.

The invention provides a power saving control method. In one embodiment, when a wireless device in a computer system is to be turned off or turned on, one of the switches of the computer system is first switched, and one of the wireless device controllers receives an instruction from the computer switch. When the command is a dismounting command, the wireless device controller sends a system control interrupt to a microcontroller, and then the microcontroller sends a shutdown command to the wireless device controller according to the system control interrupt, causing the wireless device to The controller turns off the wireless device, a connection device, and the microcontroller, and further turns off power in the wireless device controller other than the logic circuit. When the instruction is a connection instruction, the logic circuit receives the connection instruction and then turns on the wireless device controller. Then, the wireless device controller turns on the wireless device and the connection device, and further resets the microcontroller.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from

The following is a description of the embodiments of the present invention, and is intended to illustrate the basic principles of the invention and not to limit the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a power saving control module according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the power-saving control module 100 includes a wireless device controller 101 , a microcontroller 102 , and a connection device 103 . The wireless device controller 101 further includes a logic circuit 104 . In this embodiment, the wireless device controller 101 can include a media access control (Media Access Control), the microcontroller 102 can include an 8051 microcontroller, and the connection device 103 includes any of the following devices: a universal serial bus ( USB), Serial High Technology Configuration (SATA), IEEE1394, and Serial Peripheral Interface. The wireless device controller 101 is connected to the microcontroller 102 and a wireless device, and can be connected to a computer by the connection device 103. When the switch of the computer is pressed to turn off the wireless device, first, the logic circuit 104 for detecting the switch trigger in the wireless device controller 101 can receive a dismount command (Detach) sent from the switch of the computer, and then wireless. The device controller 101 can send a system control interrupt (System Control Interrupt) to the microcontroller 102, and then the microcontroller 102 can send a shutdown command to the wireless device controller 101 according to the system control interrupt, so that the wireless device controller 101 can The wireless device, the connection device 103, and the microcontroller 102 are turned off, and most of the power of the wireless device controller 101 can be turned off, and only the power is supplied to the logic circuit 104. When the switch of the computer is pressed to turn on the wireless device, first, the logic circuit 104 for detecting the trigger of the computer switch in the wireless device controller 101 can receive a connection command (Attach) sent from the computer switch, and then turn on the wireless device. The device controller 101, then, the wireless device controller 101 can turn on the wireless device and the connection device 103, and can further reset the microcontroller 102. In this embodiment, the wireless device includes any combination of the following devices: a radio frequency device (RF Device), a radio frequency amplifier (RF Amplifier), an antenna (Antenna), and a filter.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a power saving control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the power-saving control device 200 includes: a power-saving control module 100 and a wireless device 201. The power-saving control module 100 further includes: a wireless device controller 101, and a logic circuit in the wireless device controller 101. 104. The microcontroller 102 and the connection device 103. In this embodiment, the wireless device controls The controller 101 can be a media access controller, the microcontroller 102 can be an 8051 microcontroller, and the connection device 103 includes any of the following devices: a universal serial bus, a serial high-tech configuration, an IEEE 1394, and a serial peripheral interface. Wireless device 201 includes any combination of the following: a radio frequency device, a radio frequency amplifier, an antenna, a filter. The wireless device controller 101 is connected to the microcontroller 102 and the wireless device 201, and can be connected to a computer by the connection device 103. When the switch of the computer is pressed to turn off the wireless device 201, first, the logic circuit 104 for detecting the switch trigger in the wireless device controller 101 can receive a disconnect command sent from the switch of the computer, and then the wireless device controller 101 can send a system control interrupt to the microcontroller 102, and then the microcontroller 102 can send a shutdown command to the wireless device controller 101 according to the system control interrupt, so that the wireless device controller 101 can turn off the wireless device 201 and the connection device 103. And the microcontroller 102 can further turn off most of the power of the wireless device controller 101, and only supply power to the logic circuit 104 of the wireless device controller 101 that detects the triggering of the computer switch. When the switch of the computer is pressed to turn on the wireless device, first, the logic circuit 104 for detecting the trigger of the computer switch in the wireless device controller 101 can receive a connection command sent from the computer switch, and then turn on the wireless device controller. 101. Next, the wireless device controller 101 can turn on the wireless device 201 and the connection device 103, and can further reset the microcontroller 102.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of a computer system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the computer system 300 includes: a power saving control device 200, a computer 301, and a switch 302 of the computer 301. The power saving control device 200 further includes: a wireless device controller 101 and a wireless device controller 101. The logic circuit 104, the microcontroller 102, the connection device 103, and the wireless device 201. Yu Ben In an embodiment, the wireless device controller 101 can be a media access controller, the microcontroller 102 can be an 8051 microcontroller, and the connection device 103 includes any of the following devices: a universal serial bus, a serial high-tech configuration, and an IEEE 1394 And the serial peripheral interface, the wireless device 201 includes any combination of the following: a radio frequency device, a radio frequency amplifier, an antenna, a filter. The wireless device controller 101 is connected to the microcontroller 102 and the wireless device 201, and can be connected to the computer 301 by the connection device 103. When the switch 302 of the computer 301 is pressed to turn off the wireless device 201, first, the logic circuit 104 triggered by the detection switch 302 in the wireless device controller 101 can receive a removal command sent from the switch 302, and then the wireless device controller 101 can send a system control interrupt to the microcontroller 102, and then the microcontroller 102 can send a shutdown command to the wireless device controller 101 according to the system control interrupt, so that the wireless device controller 101 can turn off the wireless device 201 and the connection device 103. And the microcontroller 102 can further turn off most of the power of the wireless device controller 101, and only supply power to the logic circuit 104 of the wireless device controller 101 that detects the switch 302. When the switch 302 is pressed to turn on the wireless device, first, the logic circuit 104 triggered by the detecting switch 302 in the wireless device controller 101 can receive a connection command sent from the computer switch, and then turn on the wireless device controller 101. Then, the wireless device controller 101 can turn on the wireless device 201 and the connection device 103, and can further reset the microcontroller 102. In Figure 5, a more detailed description of the architecture within the computer 301 is provided.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a power saving control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a wireless device in a computer system is to be turned off or on, a switch of the computer system can be first switched (step 402), and a logic circuit of a wireless device controller can receive an instruction sent from the computer switch ( Step 404), then, the wireless device controller will confirm that the instruction is a dismounting instruction or a connection instruction (step 406). When the command is a dismount command, the wireless device controller can send a system control interrupt to a microcontroller (step 408), and then the microcontroller can send a close command to the wireless device control according to the system control interrupt. The device (step 410) enables the wireless device controller to turn off the wireless device, a connecting device and the microcontroller, and further turn off most of the power of the wireless device controller, and only supplies power to the wireless device controller. The logic circuit triggered by the computer switch is detected (step 412). When the command is a connection command, the logic circuit that detects the trigger of the computer switch in the wireless device controller can receive the connection command, and then turn on the wireless device controller, and then the wireless device controller can turn on the wireless device. The device and the connection device are more capable of resetting the microcontroller (step 414).

The power saving control method provided by the present invention, that is, when the wireless device is not used, the wireless device can be turned off by switching a switch on the computer keyboard, and controlled together with the connecting device, the microcontroller and the wireless device The devices that are not needed after the wireless device is turned off are also turned off, which can save more power and save power to extend the computer system more effectively than the conventional computer system that only turns off the wireless device. The purpose of using time.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of a computer system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The computer system 500 includes a wireless device controller 101, a logic circuit 104 in the wireless device controller 101, a microcontroller 102, a connection device 103, a wireless device 201, a computer 301, and an oscillator 508 connected to the wireless device controller 101, wherein the computer The 301 further includes a switch 302, a connection device main controller 501, a keyboard controller 502, a main controller driver 503, a bus driver 504, an operating system 505, a device driver 506, and a firmware 507. The connection device main controller 501 is connected to the connection device 103 and the main controller driver 503, and the keyboard controller 502 is connected to the selection circuit 104 and the switch 302 in the wireless device controller 101. The assembly methods and functions of the remaining components are well known in the art and will not be described herein.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention, and it is intended that the invention may be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100. . . Power saving control module

101. . . Wireless device controller

102. . . Microcontroller

103. . . Connecting device

104. . . Logic circuit

200. . . Power saving control device

201. . . Wireless device

300. . . computer system

301. . . computer

302. . . switch

500. . . computer system

501. . . Connecting device main controller

502. . . Switch controller

503. . . Master controller driver

504. . . Bus driver

505. . . working system

506. . . Device driver

507. . . firmware

508. . . Oscillator

1 is a block diagram of a power saving control module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram of a power saving control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a block diagram of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flow chart of a power saving control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a block diagram of a computer system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Steps 402 to 414

Claims (27)

A power saving control module is connected to a computer and a wireless device, comprising: a connecting device for connecting to the computer; a microcontroller; and a wireless device controller connected to the wireless device and the micro control And connected to the computer by the connecting device, wherein the wireless device controller includes a logic circuit for receiving an instruction sent by the switch of the computer, and when the command is a dismounting command, the wireless device controller A system control interrupt is sent to the microcontroller, and based on the system control interrupt, the microcontroller sends a shutdown command to the wireless device controller to shut down the wireless device and the connected device. The power saving control module of claim 1, wherein when the command sent by the switch of the computer is a connection command, the wireless device controller turns on the wireless device and the connecting device. The power saving control module of claim 1, wherein the wireless device controller turns off the microcontroller after receiving the shutdown command. The power saving control module of claim 1, wherein the wireless device controller turns off power of the wireless device controller other than the logic circuit after receiving the shutdown command. The power saving control module of claim 2, wherein the wireless device controller resets the microcontroller when the command sent by the switch of the computer is the connection command. For example, the power saving control module described in claim 1 of the patent scope, wherein The wireless device controller includes a media access controller corresponding to the wireless device. The power saving control module of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller comprises an 8051 microcontroller. The power saving control module of claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises one of a universal serial bus, a serial high-tech configuration, an IEEE 1394, and a serial peripheral interface. The power saving control module of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises any combination of a radio frequency device, a radio frequency amplifier, an antenna, and a filter. A power saving control device connected to a computer, comprising: a wireless device; a connecting device for connecting to the computer; a microcontroller; and a wireless device controller connected to the wireless device and the microcontroller And connecting to the computer by the connecting device, wherein the wireless device controller includes a logic circuit for receiving an instruction sent by the switch of the computer, when the command is a dismounting command, the wireless device controller A system control interrupt is sent to the microcontroller, and based on the system control interrupt, the microcontroller sends a shutdown command to the wireless device controller to shut down the wireless device and the connected device. The power saving control device of claim 10, wherein when the command sent by the switch of the computer is a connection command, the wireless device controller turns on the wireless device and the connecting device. A power saving control device as described in claim 10, The wireless device controller turns off the microcontroller after receiving the shutdown command. The power saving control device of claim 10, wherein the wireless device controller turns off power in the wireless device controller other than the logic circuit after receiving the shutdown command. The power saving control device of claim 11, wherein the wireless device controller resets the microcontroller when the command sent by the switch of the computer is the connection command. The power saving control device of claim 10, wherein the wireless device comprises any combination of a radio frequency device, a radio frequency amplifier, an antenna, and a filter. A computer system having a power saving control function, comprising: a computer comprising a switch; a wireless device; a connecting device for connecting to the computer; a microcontroller; and a wireless device controller connected to the wireless The device and the microcontroller are connected to the computer by the connecting device, wherein the wireless device controller includes a logic circuit for receiving an instruction sent by the switch of the computer, when the command is a dismounting Upon command, the wireless device controller sends a system control interrupt to the microcontroller, and based on the system control interrupt, the microcontroller sends a shutdown command to the wireless device controller to shut down the wireless device and the connected device. A computer system having a power saving control function as described in claim 16 of the patent application, wherein the instruction sent by the switch of the computer is a connection Upon receiving the command, the wireless device controller turns on the wireless device and the connected device. A computer system having a power saving control function as described in claim 16 wherein the wireless device controller turns off the microcontroller after receiving the shutdown command. The computer system with the power saving control function of claim 16, wherein the wireless device controller turns off the power of the wireless device controller other than the logic circuit after receiving the shutdown command. A computer system with a power saving control function according to claim 17, wherein the wireless device controller resets the microcontroller when the command sent by the switch of the computer is the connection command. A computer system having a power saving control function as described in claim 16 wherein the wireless device comprises any combination of a radio frequency device, a radio frequency amplifier, an antenna, and a filter. A power saving control method for a power saving control module, wherein the power saving control module comprises a connecting device, a microcontroller and a wireless device controller, wherein the wireless device controller is connected to the microcontroller and a wireless device connected to a computer by the connecting device, the power saving control method comprising: one of the wireless device controllers receiving an instruction sent by the switch of the computer; and the command sent by the switch of the computer When a command is dismissed, the wireless device controller sends a system control interrupt to the microcontroller; and according to the system control interrupt, the microcontroller sends a shutdown command to the wireless device controller to shut down the wireless device And the connecting device. The power saving control method of claim 22, wherein the wireless device controller turns on the wireless device and the connecting device when the command sent by the switch of the computer is a connection command. The power saving control method of claim 22, further comprising the wireless device controller turning off the microcontroller after receiving the shutdown command. The power saving control method of claim 22, further comprising the wireless device controller turning off power of the wireless device controller other than the logic circuit after receiving the shutdown command. The power saving control method of claim 23, wherein the wireless device controller resets the microcontroller when the command sent by the switch of the computer is the connection command. The power saving control method according to claim 22, wherein the wireless device comprises any combination of a radio frequency device, a radio frequency amplifier, an antenna, and a filter.