TWI451289B - Electrical device and function executing method applying thereof - Google Patents

Description

Electronic device and function execution method applied thereto

The present invention relates to an electronic device and a function performing method therefor, and more particularly to an electronic device capable of achieving a plurality of operational functions using a small number of keys and a function performing method applied thereto.

With the development of the 3C (Computer, Communications and Consumer) industry, more and more people will use portable electrical devices as an aid in life. For example, a common portable device includes a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a smart phone, etc., and these handheld devices are lightweight and easy to carry, so they are used. The number of people is increasing and the functions required are becoming wider and wider.

Because the portable electronic device itself is light and thin, it usually does not provide too many USB ports. In addition, the use of an external USB device can affect the portability of the product and make the user feel inconvenient.

When using a touch screen as an input interface, the touch screen is likely to leave a fingerprint on the touch screen due to finger clicks. In addition, it is inconvenient to operate the touch screen by moving the finger. In addition, if the object on the touch screen as a click is too small, it is inconvenient for the user to click with a finger, and thus a larger touch screen size is required to facilitate the user's operation. If you use a sharp hard object to operate the touch screen, it will damage the touch screen on the one hand, and you need to take extra hard objects on the one hand, which is not convenient for the user to operate.

When the portable electronic device has more functions, if each function is made to correspond to one button, many buttons will need to be configured, which will affect the appearance of the product and its volume.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device for generating different event signals by using different pressing combinations of corresponding buttons of an embedded controller of an electronic device, and causing the electronic device to perform different functions according to different event signals. The electronic device includes a first button, a second button, an embedded controller, and a processing unit. The embedded controller includes a first input and output pin and a second input and output pin. The first button and the second button are electrically connected to the first input and output pins and the second input and output pins, respectively, when being pressed. The embedded controller detects the potential difference between the two input and output pins and determines whether the first button and the second button are pressed. The processing unit is electrically connected to the embedded controller. When the embedded controller determines that both the first button and the second button are pressed, a first event signal is sent to the processing unit, and the processing unit performs a first function corresponding to the first event signal. When the embedded controller determines that the first button is pressed and the second button is not pressed, a second event signal is sent to the processing unit, and the processing unit performs a second function corresponding to the second event signal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a function performing method for use in an electronic device. The electronic device includes a first button, a second button, and an embedded controller. The embedded controller has a first input and output pin and a second input and output pin. The first button and the second button are electrically connected to the first input and output pins and the second input and output pins, respectively, when being pressed. The function execution method causes the embedded controller to press different combinations of buttons, generate different event signals, and enable the electronic device to perform different functions according to different event signals. The function execution method includes the following steps: detecting a potential difference of the first input and output pins. Detecting a potential difference between the second input and output pins. If the potential difference between the first input/output pin and the second input/output pin is both pulled down, it is determined that the first button and the second button are both pressed to generate a first event signal, and the first event signal is executed first. Features. If the potential difference of the first input/output pin is pulled low, and the potential difference of the second input/output pin is not pulled low, it is determined that the first button is pressed and the second button is not pressed, generating a second event signal, and corresponding The second event signal performs the second function.

The application of the present invention has the advantage that a plurality of functions can be performed by pressing a single or a small number of buttons, and the number of functions that can be performed is larger than the number of buttons set by the electronic device itself. Therefore, the number of buttons required to be configured on the electronic device can be initially reduced, thereby saving cost, and the present invention can be further applied to the field of tablet computers which are currently not equipped with a keyboard.

In addition, since the embedded controller in the present invention is directly electrically connected to the first button and the second button, when applied to an electronic device not equipped with a keyboard, the configuration of the general keyboard controller can be omitted. When one button and the second button are pressed, it is not necessary to re-retrieve the parameter comparison table corresponding to the keyboard controller to perform different functions corresponding to each keyboard button, thereby saving operation time and improving the performance of the electronic device as a whole. In other words, the present invention only needs to modify the software or firmware on the embedded controller, and can be applied to the existing electronic device, and can be easily reduced without greatly modifying the program of the processing unit of the existing electronic device. The number of buttons required on an existing electronic device can reduce the space required for configuring buttons in an electronic device. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for portable electronic devices that are thin and light, and are not even equipped with a keyboard.

The spirit and scope of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention. The spirit and scope of the invention are not departed.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a functional block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. The embedded controller of the electronic device generates different event signals according to different pressing combinations of the buttons, and causes the electronic device to perform different functions according to different event signals.

The electronic device 100 includes a first button 110, a second button 120, an embedded controller (EC) 130, and a processing unit 140. The embedded controller 130 is electrically connected to the first button 110, the second button 120, and the processing unit 140, respectively. The embedded controller 130 can be a keyboard controller (KBC) or other type of embedded controller. The embedded controller 130 includes a first input and output pin 131 and a second input and output pin 132. The first input/output pin 131 and the second input/output pin 132 are two different general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins on the embedded controller 130. The first button 110 and the second button 120 are electrically connected to the first input/output pin 131 and the second input/output pin 132 respectively when being pressed. It should be noted that, in FIG. 1 , for the sake of explanation, only the first button 110 and the second button 120 are electrically connected to the first input and output pin 131 and the second input and output pin 132 , but the present invention The two buttons are electrically connected to the two pins when pressed. Furthermore, any circuit design that achieves the effects emphasized by the present invention may also be used. In addition, in other embodiments, the first button 110 and the second button 120 can be electrically connected to other types of pins on the embedded controller 130, and are not limited to the disclosure. In addition, the embedded controller 130 can be electrically connected to the processing unit 140 through a chip set 150 such as a south bridge wafer or a north bridge wafer. The processing unit 140 is referred to herein as a central processing unit. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the above embodiments.

In a preferred embodiment, when the first button 110 and the second button 120 are pressed, the input is electrically connected to the first input/output pin 131 and the second input/output pin 132, respectively. The potential difference between the output pins 131 and 132 is pulled low. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first button 110 and the second button 120 can be two buttons of the same type, and the embedded controller 130 recognizes the pin as 131 or 132 according to the received signal, and recognizes it as coming from The first button 110 or the second button 120. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first button 110 and the second button 120 may also be two different buttons for generating different signals.

The embedded controller 130 detects the potential difference between the first input/output pin 131 and the second input/output pin 132 and determines whether the first button 110 and the second button 120 are pressed. The potential difference between the first input/output pin 131 and the second input/output pin 132 can be used as a basis for determining whether the first button 110 and the second button 120 are pressed. Therefore, the embedded controller 130 further includes a detection module 133 and a processing module 134. The detecting module 133 detects the potential difference between the first input/output pin 131 and the second input/output pin 132, respectively. When the detecting module 133 detects that the potential difference between the first input/output pin 131 is pulled down, the processing module 134 determines that the first button 110 is pressed, and when the detecting module 133 detects the second input/output pin 132 When the potential difference is pulled low, the processing module 134 determines that the second button is pressed.

When the embedded controller 130 determines that both the first button 110 and the second button 120 are pressed, the embedded controller 130 sends a first event signal to the processing unit 140. The processing unit 140 performs a first function corresponding to the first event signal. When the embedded controller 130 determines that the first button 110 is pressed and the second button 120 is not pressed, the embedded controller 130 sends a second event signal to the processing unit 140. The processing unit 140 performs a second function corresponding to the second event signal. In addition, when the second button 120 is pressed alone, the processing unit 140 can still perform a third function, and the present invention is not intended to limit the number of event signals that can be sent and the number of functions that can be performed.

The first event signal and the second event signal include a system control interrupt protocol or a scan code. In addition, the processing unit 140 can still perform a third function when the second button 120 is individually pressed. In addition, the embedded controller 130 can generate a first event signal and a second event signal according to an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), a System Control Interrupt (SCI), or other protocol. That is, in the preferred embodiment, when it is determined that the first button 110 is pressed and the second button 120 is not pressed, the embedded controller 130 can send a signal to cause the electronic device to start the shutdown action. In another preferred embodiment, when it is determined that both the first button 110 and the second button 120 are pressed, the embedded controller 130 can send a system control interrupt protocol (SCI Event), and the operating system of the electronic device is received. After this SCI event, the BIOS is called to provide the corresponding SCI Handle to perform the corresponding function. However, the foregoing embodiments are all illustrative of the functions that the first event signal or the second event signal may correspond to. The manner in which the present invention can be implemented is not limited thereto.

In this way, a plurality of functions can be performed by pressing a single or a small number of buttons, and the types of functions that can be performed are larger than the number of buttons set by the electronic device itself. Thus, the number of keys required to be configured on the electronic device can be reduced, thereby saving costs. In addition, the software or firmware on the embedded controller 130 can be modified to be applied to existing electronic devices. In other words, the number of keys required on the existing electronic device can be easily reduced without greatly modifying the program of the processing unit of the existing electronic device, thereby reducing the space required for configuring the buttons in the electronic device. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for use in a portable device that is light and thin.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the embedded controller 130 may also wait for a preset time when the first button 110 is pressed, and determine whether the second button 120 is pressed while waiting. Therefore, the embedded controller 130 can further include a waiting module 135. When the processing module 134 determines that the first button is pressed, the waiting module 135 notifies the detecting module 133 to continuously detect whether the second button 120 is pressed within a predetermined time. If the detection module 133 detects that the potential difference of the second input/output pin 132 is pulled down within a preset time, the processing module 134 determines that the second button 120 is pressed to send the first event signal. If the detection module 133 does not detect that the potential difference of the second input/output pin 132 is pulled down within a preset time, the processing module 134 determines that the second button 120 is not pressed to send the second event signal. In this way, the user can press the first button 110 and the second button 120 in sequence to cause the electronic device 100 to perform functions other than the functions corresponding to the first button 110 and the second button 120.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the embedded controller 130 can determine whether the first button 110 and the second button 120 are pressed by the count value and the flag. Therefore, the embedded controller 130 further includes a storage module 136, a first flag setting module 137, a second flag setting module 138, and a count value checking module 139. The storage module 136 stores a count value, and the count value is preset to a preset value. When the processing module 134 determines that the first button 120 is pressed, the first flag setting module 137 sets a first flag in the storage module 136, and changes the count value to a value other than the preset value. When the processing module 134 determines that the second button 120 is pressed, the second flag setting module 138 sets a second flag in the storage module 136, and changes the count value to a value other than the preset value. The count value checking module 139 continuously checks whether the count value is a preset value. When the count value is not the preset value, the processing module 134 determines whether the first flag and the second flag are stored in the storage module. If the first flag and the second flag are stored in the storage module 136, the embedded controller 130 generates a first event signal. If the first flag is stored in the storage module 136 but the second flag is not present, the embedded controller 130 generates a second event signal. In this way, the number of functions of the electronic device 100 can be operated by a small number of buttons.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a flowchart of a function execution method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The function execution method is applied to an electronic device. The electronic device includes a first button, a second button, and an embedded controller. The embedded controller has a first input and output pin and a second input and output pin. The first button and the second button are electrically connected to the first input and output pins and the second input and output pins of the embedded controller respectively when being pressed. The function execution method causes the embedded controller to press different combinations of buttons, generate different event signals, and enable the electronic device to perform different functions according to different event signals. The function execution method can be implemented as a computer program and stored in a computer readable recording medium, and the computer executes the function execution method after reading the recording medium. Computer-readable recording media can be read-only memory, flash memory, floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, flash drive, tape, network accessible database or familiar with the art can easily think of the same The function of the computer can read the recording media.

The function execution method 200 includes the following steps:

In step 210, the potential difference between the first input and output pins and the potential difference of the second input and output pins are detected.

In step 220, if the potential difference between the first input/output pin and the second input/output pin is pulled low, it is determined that both the first button and the second button are pressed. Next, in step 230, the embedded controller generates a first event signal to cause the electronic device to perform a first function (step 240).

In step 250, if the potential difference of the first input/output pin is pulled low and the potential difference of the second input/output pin is not pulled low, it is determined that the first button is pressed and the second button is not pressed. Thus, in step 260, the embedded controller generates a second event signal to cause the electronic device to perform a second function (step 270).

The generating the first event signal (step 230) or generating the second event signal (step 260) is performed according to the advanced configuration and the power interface. The first event signal and the second event signal comprise a system control interrupt protocol or a scan code. In addition, the function execution method 200 further includes the following steps: when determining that the first button is not pressed and the second button is pressed, the embedded controller generates a third event signal to enable the electronic device to perform a third function. In this way, a plurality of functions can be performed by pressing a single or a small number of buttons, and the types of functions that can be performed are larger than the number of buttons set by the electronic device itself. Thus, the number of keys required to be configured on the electronic device can be reduced, thereby saving costs. In addition, you only need to modify the software or firmware on the embedded controller to apply to existing electronic devices. In other words, the number of keys required on the existing electronic device can be easily reduced without greatly modifying the program of the processing unit of the existing electronic device, thereby reducing the space required for configuring the buttons in the electronic device. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for use in a portable device that is light and thin.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the step of detecting the potential difference of each pin of step 210 may further include the step of waiting for a preset time. Wherein, when the potential difference of the first input/output pin is detected to be low, it waits for a preset time, and continuously detects whether the potential difference of the second input/output pin is pulled down while waiting. When the potential difference of the second input/output pin is not pulled down within the preset time, step 210 determines that the first button is pressed, and the second button is not pressed (step 250), so that the embedded controller generates the second event. Signal (step 260). When the potential difference of the second input/output pin is pulled down within a preset time, step 210 determines that the second button is pressed to cause the embedded controller to generate the first event signal (step 230). In this way, the user can cause the electronic device to perform functions other than the first button and the second button corresponding function by sequentially pressing the first button and the second button.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the embedded controller can determine whether the first button and the second button are pressed by the count value and the flag. Therefore, the function execution method 200 may further include: providing a count value, and the count value is preset to a preset value. When the embedded controller determines that the first button is pressed, it sets a first flag and changes the count value to a value other than the preset value. When the embedded controller determines that the second button is pressed, it sets a second flag and changes the count value to a value other than the preset value. Thus, step 210 may include continuously checking whether the count value is a preset value. When the count value is not the preset value, step 210 determines whether the first button is pressed by determining whether the first flag is present, and determines whether the second button is pressed by determining whether the second flag is present. If the first flag is stored, it is determined that the first button has been pressed. If the second flag is stored, it is determined that the second button has been pressed.

It will be apparent from the above-described embodiments of the present invention that the application of the present invention has the following advantages. The number of functions performed by pressing a button can be more than the number of buttons. Thus, the number of keys required to be configured on the electronic device can be reduced, thereby saving costs.

In addition, since the embedded controller in the present invention is directly electrically connected to the first button and the second button, when applied to an electronic device not equipped with a keyboard, the configuration of the general keyboard controller can be omitted. When one button and the second button are pressed, it is not necessary to re-retrieve the parameter comparison table corresponding to the keyboard controller to perform different functions corresponding to each keyboard button, thereby saving operation time and improving the performance of the electronic device as a whole. In other words, the present invention can be applied to an existing electronic device only by modifying the software or firmware on the embedded controller, and can easily reduce the existing electronic device without greatly modifying the program of the processing unit of the existing electronic device. The number of keys required on the screen reduces the space required to configure the buttons in the electronic device. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for use in a portable device that is light and thin.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention can be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application attached.

100. . . Electronic device

110. . . First button

120. . . Second button

130. . . Embedded controller

131. . . First input and output pin

132. . . Second input and output pin

133. . . Detection module

134. . . Processing module

135. . . Waiting module

136. . . Storage module

137. . . First flag setting module

138. . . Second flag setting module

139. . . Count value check module

140. . . Processing unit

150. . . Chipset

200. . . Function execution method

210~270. . . step

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

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 is a flow chart of a function execution method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

100. . . Electronic device

110. . . First button

120. . . Second button

130. . . Embedded controller

131. . . First input and output pin

132. . . Second input and output pin

133. . . Detection module

134. . . Processing module

135. . . Waiting module

136. . . Storage module

137. . . First flag setting module

138. . . Second flag setting module

139. . . Count value check module

140. . . Processing unit

150. . . Chipset

Claims (7)

An electronic device comprising: a first button; a second button; an embedded controller comprising a first input and output pin and a second input and output pin, the first button and the second button being The first input/output pin and the second input/output pin are electrically connected to each other when pressed, and the embedded controller respectively detects a potential difference between the two input and output pins and determines whether the first button and the second button are Pressed; and a processing unit electrically connected to the embedded controller, wherein when the embedded controller determines that both the first button and the second button are pressed, sending a first event signal to the processing unit The processing unit performs a first function corresponding to the first event signal. When the embedded controller determines that the first button is pressed and the second button is not pressed, sending a second event signal to the processing unit. The processing unit performs a second function corresponding to the second event signal, wherein the embedded controller further includes: a detecting module, respectively detecting the first input/output pin and the second input and output a potential difference of the pin; a processing module, when the detecting module detects that the potential difference of the first input/output pin is pulled down, the processing module determines that the first button is pressed, when the detecting When the module detects that the potential difference of the second input/output pin is pulled down, the processing module determines that the second button is pressed; and a storage module stores a count value, and the count value is preset to a preset Assume a first flag setting module, when the processing module determines that the first button is pressed, setting a first flag in the storage module, and changing the count value to a value other than the preset value; a second flag setting module, when the processing module determines that the second button is pressed, setting a second flag in the storage module, and changing the count value to a value other than the preset value; The counting value checking module continuously checks whether the counting value is the preset value, wherein when the counting value is not the preset value, the processing module determines whether the first flag is stored in the storage module and the a second flag, if the first flag and the second flag are stored in the storage module, the first event signal is generated, and if the first flag is stored in the storage module but the second flag is not stored, the second flag is generated. The second event signal. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a chip set, wherein the embedded controller is electrically connected to the processing unit through the chip set. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the embedded controller further comprises: a waiting module, wherein when the processing module determines that the first button is pressed, the waiting module notifies the detecting module to Continuous detection within a preset time Whether the second button is pressed, and if the detecting module detects that the potential difference of the second input/output pin is pulled down within the preset time, the processing module determines that the second button is pressed Sending the first event signal, if the detecting module does not detect that the potential difference of the second input/output pin is pulled down within the preset time, the processing module determines that the second button is not pressed Send the second event signal. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first event signal and the second event signal comprise a system control interrupt protocol or a scan code. A function execution method is applied to an electronic device, the electronic device includes a first button, a second button, and an embedded controller, and the embedded controller has a first input and output pin and a second input and output The first button and the second button are electrically connected to the first input and output pins and the second input and output pins respectively when the second button is pressed, and the function execution method includes: detecting the first input and output a potential difference of the foot; detecting a potential difference of the second input/output pin; if the potential difference of the first input/output pin is pulled down, determining that the first button is pressed; if the second input/output pin is The potential difference is pulled down, determining that the second button is pressed; providing a count value, and the count value is preset to a preset value; if it is determined that the first button is pressed, setting a first flag, and The counter value is changed to a value other than the preset value. If it is determined that the second button is pressed, a second flag is set, and the count value is changed to a value other than the preset value; continuously check whether the count value is For the preset value; when the count value is not the preset value, determining whether the first flag and the second flag are present, and if the first flag and the second flag are stored, generating a first The event signal, if the first flag is stored but the second flag is not present, generating a second event signal; performing a first function corresponding to the first event signal; and performing a second corresponding to the second event signal Features. The function execution method of claim 5, wherein the step of detecting the potential difference of the first input/output pin and the step of detecting the potential difference of the second input/output pin further comprises the following steps: Wait for a preset time. The function execution method of claim 5, wherein the step of generating the first event signal or generating the second event signal is performed according to an advanced configuration and a power interface, and the first event signal and the second event are The signal contains a system control interrupt protocol or a scan code.