TWI668631B - Computer device and startup method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a computer device and a starting method. The computer device includes a processor, a switch circuit, and a port. The switch circuit is coupled to the processor. The connection is coupled to the switch circuit. The port includes a detection pin. Detects whether the pin detection port is coupled to the display cable. When the port is coupled to the display cable, the port outputs an enable signal to the switch circuit to enable the switch circuit to enable the processor.

Description

Computer device and startup method

The present invention relates to a computer startup design, and more particularly to a computer device and a startup method for enabling a wake-up procedure or a boot procedure by coupling an external display.

Generally speaking, the computer device is activated by the user pressing the power button of the computer device, and then the computer device executes the wake-up program or the boot program. Moreover, when the user wants to display the computer screen of the computer device in combination with the external display, the user must execute the wake-up program or the boot program first, and execute the corresponding setting program before using the external display to display the computer screen. Taking a notebook computer as an example, when the notebook computer is placed on the table and externally connected to the external display, the user must first open the notebook computer (open the screen of the notebook computer), and then press the power button to display the display cable. The connection between the line and the notebook computer is such that the notebook can drive an external display. That is to say, for some specific usage modes, the traditional notebook computer is inconvenient to start. Even the screen of the notebook will occupy a portion of the desktop and will block the display area of the external display. Therefore, how to enable the user to quickly operate the notebook computer and conveniently use an external display to display the computer screen, the solutions of several embodiments will be presented below.

The invention provides a computer device and a starting method for automatically waking up or starting a computer device after the display cable is coupled through a connection port of the computer device.

The computer device of the present invention includes a processor, a switch circuit, and a port. The switch circuit is coupled to the processor. The connection is coupled to the switch circuit. The port includes a detection pin. The detection pin is used to detect whether the port is coupled to the display cable. When the port is coupled to the display cable, the port outputs an enable signal to the switch circuit to enable the switch circuit to enable the processor.

In an embodiment of the invention, the processor operates in a sleep mode or a shutdown mode, and when the switch circuit receives the enable signal, the switch circuit wakes up or starts the processor.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connection port is a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port, a Video Graphics Array (VGA) port, or a Display Port (DP). ) Connection 埠.

In an embodiment of the invention, the computer device further includes a display. The display is coupled to the processor. The display is off. When the port is coupled to the display cable, the processor drives the external display via the port and the display cable.

In an embodiment of the invention, when the connection port is coupled to the display cable, the switch circuit changes the voltage level received by the detection pin from the first voltage level to the second voltage level, and the switch circuit Enable the processor.

In an embodiment of the invention, the detecting pin is a ground pin or an idle pin connected to the port.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connection port comprises a resistor. The first end of the resistor is coupled to the voltage source, and the second end of the resistor is coupled to the detection pin and the switch circuit.

In an embodiment of the invention, when the connection port is coupled to the display cable, the detection pin provides a current path for the current provided by the voltage source to be transmitted to the detection pin via the resistor. The voltage level received by the switching circuit via the detection pin changes from a high voltage level to a low voltage level, and the switching circuit enables the processor.

In an embodiment of the invention, the detecting pin is a hot plug pin.

In an embodiment of the invention, when the connection port is coupled to the display cable, the voltage level received by the switch circuit via the detection pin changes from a low voltage level to a high voltage level, and the switch circuit enables processor.

The starting method of the present invention is applicable to a computer device. The computer device includes a processor, a switch circuit, and a port. The startup method includes the steps of: detecting whether the connection port is coupled to the display cable by connecting the detection pin of the port; and outputting the enable signal to the switch circuit by connecting the port when the port is coupled to the display cable, In order to enable the switching circuit to enable the processor.

In an embodiment of the invention, the processor is operated in a sleep mode or a shutdown mode. When the switch circuit receives the enable signal, the switch circuit wakes up or starts the processor.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connection port is a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port, a Video Graphics Array (VGA) port, or a Display Port (DP). ) Connection 埠.

In an embodiment of the invention, the computer device further includes a display, and the display is in a closed state. The booting method further includes the step of driving the external display via the port and the display cable by the processor when the port is coupled to the display cable.

In an embodiment of the invention, when the connection port is coupled to the display cable, the switch circuit changes the voltage level received by the detection pin from the first voltage level to the second voltage level, and the switch circuit Enable the processor.

In an embodiment of the invention, the detecting pin is a ground pin or an idle pin connected to the port.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connection port comprises a resistor. The first end of the resistor is coupled to the voltage source, and the second end of the resistor is coupled to the detection pin and the switch circuit.

In an embodiment of the invention, when the connection port is coupled to the display cable, the detection pin generates a current path for the current provided by the voltage source to be transmitted to the detection pin via the resistor. The voltage level received by the switching circuit via the detection pin changes from a high voltage level to a low voltage level, and the switching circuit enables the processor.

In an embodiment of the invention, the detecting pin is a hot plug pin.

In an embodiment of the invention, when the connection port is coupled to the display cable, the voltage level received by the switch circuit via the detection pin changes from a low voltage level to a high voltage level, and the switch circuit enables processor.

Based on the above, the computer device and the startup method of the present invention can determine whether an external display cable is coupled to the connection port of the computer device by the detection pin of the connection port to determine whether the processor is enabled. That is to say, the computer device and the starting method of the present invention can determine whether to activate the computer device through the connection state of the connection port, so that the user can quickly use the computer device and display the computer screen with an external display.

The above described features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

In order to make the disclosure of the present disclosure easier to understand, the following specific embodiments are examples of the disclosure that can be implemented. In addition, wherever possible, the same elements, components, and steps in the drawings and embodiments are used to represent the same or similar components.

1 is a schematic diagram of a computer device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the computer device 100 includes a processor 110, a switch circuit 120, and a port 130. The processor 110 is coupled to the switch circuit 120. The switch circuit 120 is coupled to the port 130. In this embodiment, when the computer device 100 is in the sleep mode or the shutdown mode, the computer device 100 can determine whether to perform a wake-up procedure by detecting whether the connection port 130 can be coupled to an external display cable. It is a boot program. Specifically, when the port 130 is coupled to an external display cable, the port 130 outputs an enable signal to the switch circuit 120 to enable the switch circuit 120 to enable the processor 110. Therefore, the computer device 100 of the present invention can determine whether to directly wake up or turn on the processor 110 according to the connection state of the connection port 130 and the external display cable, and the user can pass the wired or wireless mouse or keyboard of the computer device 100. The computer device 100 is directly operated.

In the present embodiment, the computer device 100 may include a display, and the display of the computer device 100 is in a closed state. When the port 130 is coupled to an external display cable, the processor 110 drives the external display via the port 130 and an external display cable. That is to say, whether the built-in display is connected to the computer device 100 of the present embodiment, when the connection port 130 is coupled to the external display cable, the computer device 100 can display the computer screen through the external display. In other words, the user does not need to wake up or turn on the computer device 100 through the power button. In this embodiment, the user can directly connect the external display cable to the port 130 to cause the computer device 100 to automatically wake up or turn on the processor 110 and display the computer screen through an external display. Further, the computer device 100 of the present invention is not limited to including a display. In an embodiment, the computer device 100 may not have a built-in display, and when the port 130 is coupled to an external display cable, the computer device 100 may display the computer screen through an external display.

The computer device 100 may be a notebook computer, a desktop computer, or a tablet computer. The processor 110 can be a central processing unit (CPU), a system on chip (SOC), or other programmable general purpose or special purpose microprocessor (Microprocessor), digital signal processor. (Digital Signal Processor, DSP), Programmable Controller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC), Programmable Logic Device (PLD), other similar processors, or a combination of these circuits .

The switch circuit 120 may include a power start circuit, a power control circuit, or a power management circuit, which is not limited in the present invention. The switch circuit 120 can receive the enable signal output from the port 130 and wake up or activate the computer device 100 in accordance with the enable signal. The switch circuit 120 can provide the function of waking up or starting the computer device 100 as a power button of a general computer device. The port 130 can be a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port, a Video Graphics Array (VGA) port, or a Display Port (DP) port.

2 is a schematic diagram of a computer device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the computer device 200 includes a processor 210, a switch circuit 220, a port 230, and a display 240. The processor 210 is coupled to the switch circuit 220 and the display 240. The port 230 is coupled to the display 240. In the embodiment, the computer device 200 can be, for example, a notebook computer, and the computer device 200 has a display 240 built therein. For example, when the computer device 200 is in a sleep state or a power off state, the display 240 of the computer device 200 is also in a closed state. For the notebook computer, the display 240 and the body of the computer device 200 are in a closed state. Moreover, when the port 230 of the computer device 200 is coupled to an external display cable 330, the port 230 can output an enable signal to the switch circuit 220 to cause the switch circuit 220 to perform a wake-up procedure on the processor 210. Or boot the program. At this time, when the computer device 200 is woken up or turned on, the processor 210 can be coupled to the external display 340 through the connection port 230 and the display cable 330, and the processor 210 can drive the external display 340 to display the computer screen (for example, Job screen).

In other words, when the computer device 200 is in a sleep state or a power off state, the user does not need to open or open the built-in display 240. After the user simply plugs the display cable 330 into the port 230 of the computer device 200, the computer device 200 will automatically wake up or activate the processor 210 to operate the operating system. Moreover, the computer device 200 can directly provide display data to the external display 340 through the connection port 230 and the display cable 330 to instantly display the computer screen through the external display 340. Therefore, the computer device 200 of the present embodiment can provide a convenient wake-up function or a boot function, and the computer device 200 of the embodiment can directly provide a display function through the external display 340 regardless of whether the built-in display 240 is turned on.

In addition, regarding the processor 210, the switch circuit 220, and other technical features and embodiments of the port 230 of the present embodiment, sufficient teaching, suggestions, and implementation instructions can be obtained by referring to the description of the embodiment of FIG. 1 above, and therefore no longer Narration.

3 is a schematic illustration of a port according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3, in order to enable those skilled in the art to further understand the detection means adopted by the port of the present invention, FIG. 3 shows a high definition multimedia interface that the port of the present invention may include. , HDMI) is a schematic diagram of a germanium wafer, but the invention is not limited thereto. The ports described in the embodiments of the present invention may also include other types of connection pads (such as VGA connection pads or DP connection pads), and the following detection pins can be retouched to achieve the same detection function. . In FIG. 3, the connection port 430 includes a connection die wafer 431, and the connection die wafer 431 includes a plurality of pins. These pins include, for example, data transfer pins D0-, D0+, D1-, D1+, D2-, D2+, clock pin CK-, CK+, shield pin D0 Shield, D1 Shield, D2 Shield, CK Shield, control pin CE Remote, NC, display data channel clock pin DDC CLK, display data channel data pin DDC DATA, ground pin GND, power pin +5V, hot plug monitoring pin HP DET and idle pin SHL20~SHL25.

In this embodiment, one of the above-mentioned respective pins of the connection port 430 can be used as a detection pin, and the detection pin can be coupled to a switch circuit (not shown). When the connection port 430 is coupled to the external display cable, the voltage level received by the switch circuit via the detection pin will be changed from the first voltage level to the second voltage level, so the switch circuit will correspondingly enable the processor. To perform a wake-up procedure or a boot procedure. Specifically, the ground pin GND of the port 430 can be used as the detection pin. The ground pin GND can be coupled to the switch circuit through the terminal N1. The connection port 430 includes a resistor R1. One end of the resistor R1 is coupled to the ground pin GND and the end point N1, and the other end of the end point N2 and the resistor R1 is coupled to the voltage source V1. In the present embodiment, the power source V1 can provide a 3 volt (V) voltage signal, and the resistor R1 can be 20 k ohms, but the invention is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, when the connection port 430 is not coupled to the external display cable, the ground pin GND does not provide a current path, so the voltage source V1 does not supply current to the resistor R1, so that the voltage level of the terminal N1 will be For example, the voltage source V1 is maintained at a high voltage level (3V). However, when the port 430 is coupled to an external display cable, the ground pin GND forms a current path with the external display cable.

That is, when the connection port 430 is coupled to the external display cable, the current supplied from the voltage source V1 can be transmitted to the ground pin GND via the resistor R1, and since the current supplied from the voltage source V1 flows through the resistor R1, the resistor Cross-pressure will be generated at both ends of R1. Therefore, the voltage level of the terminal N1 (the end of the resistor R1 coupled to the ground pin GND) will be changed from the high voltage level to the low voltage level. In other words, when the voltage level received by the switch circuit coupled to the terminal N1 is changed from the high voltage level to the low voltage level via the detection pin, it indicates that the port 430 has been coupled to the external display cable. At this point, the switching circuit will correspondingly enable the processor to perform a wake-up or boot process.

However, the above detection pin is not limited to the ground pin GND. In one embodiment, any of the idle bits SHL20~SHL25 of the port 430 can also be used as a detection pin. Any one of the idle pins SHL20~SHL25 can be coupled to the detection circuit composed of the voltage source V1, the resistor R1 and the terminals N1 and N2 as described above, and the terminal N1 is coupled to the switch circuit. Even in another embodiment, the hot plug monitoring pin HP DET of the port 430 can also be used as a detection pin, and the hot plug monitoring pin HP DET can be directly used for detection. In detail, when the port 430 is coupled to an external display cable, the hot plug monitoring pin HP DET is at a high voltage level. When the port 430 is not coupled to an external display cable, the hot plug monitoring pin HP DET is at a low voltage level. In other words, the switch circuit can directly detect the hot plug monitoring pin HP DET. When the voltage level received by the hot plug monitoring pin HP DET changes from a low voltage level to a high voltage level, it indicates that the port 430 has been coupled to an external display cable, so the switch circuit will correspondingly enable the processor. To wake up the program or start the program.

4 is a flow chart of a method of booting in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The startup method of this embodiment can be applied to the computer devices 100, 200 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. Refer to Figure 2 and Figure 4. In step S510, the computer device 200 operates the processor 210 in a sleep mode or a shutdown mode. In step S520, the computer device 200 detects whether the port 230 is coupled to the display cable 330 by detecting the detection pin of the port 230. In step S530, when the port 230 is coupled to the display cable 330, the computer device 200 outputs an enable signal to the switch circuit 220 via the port 230 to enable the switch circuit 220 to enable the processor 210. In step S540, the computer device 200 drives the external display 340 via the port 230 and the display cable 330. That is, the user can wake up or turn on the computer device 200 by coupling the display cable 330 coupled to the external display 340 to the port 230 of the computer device 200. Therefore, the startup method of the present invention can directly wake up or turn on the processor 210 of the computer device 200 by coupling the display cable 330 to the port 230 of the computer device 200 without the display 240 of the computer device 200 being turned on. And the computer screen can be obtained directly through the external display 340.

In addition, regarding the processor 210, the switch circuit 220, and other technical features and embodiments of the port 230 of the present embodiment, sufficient teachings, suggestions, and implementation descriptions may be obtained by referring to the description of the embodiment of FIG. 1 to FIG. Therefore, it will not be repeated.

In summary, the computer device and the starting method of the present invention can cause the switching circuit to wake up or start the processor in real time according to whether the voltage level of the detecting pin of the port is changed. In other words, the user can start the computer device without pressing the power button and turning on the built-in display of the computer device. The computer device and the starting method of the present invention can directly determine whether there is an external device according to the detection pin of the port. The display cable is coupled to the port of the computer device to quickly and conveniently boot the computer device and display the computer screen through an external display.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100, 200‧‧‧ computer devices

110, 210‧‧‧ processor

120, 220‧‧‧ switch circuit

130, 230, 430‧‧‧ Connections

240‧‧‧ display

330‧‧‧Display cable

340‧‧‧External display

431‧‧‧Connected to the wafer

N1, N2‧‧‧ endpoints

R1‧‧‧ resistance

V1‧‧‧ voltage source

S510~S540‧‧‧Steps

1 is a schematic diagram of a computer device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a schematic diagram of a computer device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a schematic illustration of a port according to an embodiment of the invention. 4 is a flow chart of a method of booting in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (14)

A computer device includes: a processor; a switch circuit coupled to the processor; and a port coupled to the switch circuit, wherein the port includes a detection pin, and the detection pin is used for Detecting whether the port is coupled to a display cable, wherein when the port is coupled to the display cable, the port outputs a consistent energy signal to the switch circuit to enable the switch circuit to enable the processor, wherein The detection pin is a ground pin or an idle pin of the port. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the processor operates in a sleep mode or a shutdown mode, and when the switch circuit receives the enable signal, the switch circuit wakes up or starts the processor. The computer device according to claim 1, wherein the connection device is a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port, a Video Graphics Array (VGA) port or a The Display Port (DP) port is displayed. The computer device of claim 1, further comprising: a display coupled to the processor, wherein the display is in an off state, and when the port is coupled to the display cable, the processor is The port and the display cable drive an external display. The computer device of claim 1, wherein when the connection port is coupled to the display cable, the switch circuit receives an electric power via the detection pin. The voltage level is changed from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, and the switching circuit enables the processor. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the connection port comprises a resistor, a first end of the resistor is coupled to a voltage source, and a second end of the resistor is coupled to the detection pin and The switching circuit. The computer device of claim 6, wherein the detecting pin provides a current path when the connecting port is coupled to the display cable, so that a current provided by the voltage source is transmitted to the current through the resistor The detection pin, wherein a voltage level received by the switch circuit via the detection pin changes from a high voltage level to a low voltage level, and the switch circuit enables the processor. A booting method is applicable to a computer device, and the computer device includes a processor, a switch circuit, and a port. The booting method includes: detecting the port by detecting a pin of the port. Whether a display cable is coupled to the display cable; and when the connection port is coupled to the display cable, the connection output signal is outputted to the switch circuit to enable the switch circuit to enable the processor, wherein the detection The pin is a ground pin or an idle pin of the port. The booting method of claim 8, wherein the processor operates in a sleep mode or a shutdown mode, and when the switch circuit receives the enable signal, the switch circuit wakes up or starts the processor. The activation method of claim 8, wherein the connection is a High Definition Multimedia Interface (High Definition Multimedia Interface, HDMI) port, a Video Graphics Array (VGA) port or a Display Port (DP) port. The activation method of claim 8, wherein the computer device further comprises a display, and the display is in a closed state, wherein the starting method further comprises: when the connection port is coupled to the display cable, An external display is driven by the processor via the port and the display cable. The activation method of claim 8, wherein when the connection port is coupled to the display cable, a voltage level received by the switch circuit via the detection pin is changed from a first voltage level to a first voltage level. A second voltage level and the switching circuit enables the processor. The method of claim 8, wherein the connection includes a resistor, a first end of the resistor is coupled to a voltage source, and a second end of the resistor is coupled to the detection pin and The switching circuit. The activation method of claim 13, wherein when the connection port is coupled to the display cable, the detection pin generates a current path, so that a current provided by the voltage source is transmitted to the current through the resistor The detection pin, wherein a voltage level received by the switch circuit via the detection pin changes from a high voltage level to a low voltage level, and the switch circuit enables the processor.