TWI817636B - Electronic device and present method for status description information thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device and a present method for status description information thereof. The method includes: when the electronic device is in a first power state, presenting keyboard information by a display of a digital display keyboard (DDK), wherein a display position of the keyboard information in the digital display keyboard is corresponding with a plurality of physical buttons in the digital display keyboard; and when the electronic device is in a second power state, presenting status description information related to at least one circuit module in the electronic device by the display, wherein a power consumption per unit time of the electronic device in the first power state is higher than a power consumption per unit time of the electronic device in the second power state.

Description

Method for presenting electronic device and status description information

The present invention relates to an information presentation technology, and in particular, to a presentation method of an electronic device and its status description information.

Traditionally, when a laptop, desktop computer or server host is in sleep, hibernation or shutdown state, it can only obtain its startup status, power status or status through one or two power indicator lights provided on the device casing. Busy status. However, more accurate device status information can only be viewed through the control interface presented on the monitor after the device is turned on or wakes up. Therefore, the user cannot prepare in advance for the current state of the device before the device is turned on or wakes up, such as charging it through an external power supply.

The present invention provides a method for presenting an electronic device and its status description information, which can improve the above problems.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for presenting status description information, which is used in an electronic device. The electronic device has a digital display keyboard. The method for presenting status description information includes: when the electronic device is in a first power state. , presenting key information through a display in the digital display keyboard, wherein the display position of the key information in the digital display keyboard corresponds to a plurality of physical keys in the digital display keyboard; and in the electronic device When in the second power state, state description information related to at least one circuit module in the electronic device is presented through the display, wherein the power consumption per unit time of the electronic device in the first power state is high. The power consumption per unit time of the electronic device in the second power state.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides an electronic device, which includes a digital display keyboard. The digital display keyboard includes a display and a plurality of physical keys. The digital display keyboard is used to: when the electronic device is in a first power state, present key information through the display, wherein the display position of the key information in the digital display keyboard is consistent with the plurality of physical keys. Corresponding to each other; and when the electronic device is in the second power state, presenting status description information related to at least one circuit module in the electronic device through the display, wherein the electronic device is in the first power state. The power consumption per unit time in this state is higher than the power consumption per unit time of the electronic device in the second power state.

Based on the above, in the first power state of the electronic device, the display of the digital display keyboard can present key information to assist the user in performing typing input. In addition, in the second power state of the electronic device, the display of the digital display keyboard can be changed to present status description information related to the circuit module inside the electronic device. The power consumption per unit time of the electronic device in the first power state is higher than the power consumption per unit time of the electronic device in the second power state. Thereby, in the second power state of the electronic device (that is, the low power consumption state), the user can roughly know at least part of the system state of the electronic device based on the state description information, so that relevant operation preparations can be made in advance.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 , the electronic device 10 may be a notebook computer, a desktop computer, an industrial computer, a server, a game console, or any other electronic device with a physical keyboard. In particular, the electronic device 10 can present status description information related to at least part of the circuit modules inside the electronic device 10 through the physical keyboard.

The electronic device 10 includes a keyboard module 11 and circuit modules 12(1)~12(n). The keyboard module 11 is also called a Digital Display Keyboard (DDK). The keyboard module 11 may include any physical keyboard that supports information presentation (eg, image display) functions. The circuit modules 12(1)˜12(n) may include circuit modules in the electronic device 10 that have specific functions or are responsible for specific tasks. The present invention does not limit the total number and type of circuit modules 12(1)~12(n).

In one embodiment, the keyboard module 11 includes a physical keyboard 111, a display 112 and a microcontroller 113. For example, the physical keyboard 111 may be disposed above the display 112, and the physical keyboard 111 may have multiple physical keys. These physical keys on the physical keyboard 111 can be used to generate input signals according to the user's clicks. In particular, these physical buttons are transparent or translucent. For example, these physical keys all have transparent or translucent keycaps. The display 112 is used to present information (eg, display images). For example, display 112 may include an electronic paper (e-paper) display or other similar thin display. In addition, the microcontroller 113 is coupled to the display 112 and used to control the display 112 .

When the display 112 presents information (eg, displays an image), the presented information can penetrate the physical keyboard 111 (or the keycaps on the physical keyboard 111). At this time, the user can view the information presented on the display 112 through the physical keyboard 111 . In particular, in different states of the electronic device 10 , the display 112 can present different (or different types of) information through the physical keyboard 111 .

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a keyboard module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2 , in the keyboard module 11 , the physical keyboard 111 can be stacked above the display 112 . It should be noted that a transparent medium or buffer material may also be provided between the physical keyboard 111 and the display 112, which is not limited by the present invention.

When the display 112 presents information (eg, displays images) along the direction 201, the information presented by the display 112 can penetrate the physical keyboard 111 and be viewed by the user 21 from above the physical keyboard 111. The direction 201 may be the normal vector direction of the display interface (eg, display panel) of the display 112 .

It should be noted that although FIG. 2 shows a physical keyboard 111 and a display 112 stacked one above another, the implementation of the keyboard module 11 of the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the physical keyboard 111 and the display 112 can also be implemented in other forms or combinations. For example, in one embodiment, the display interface (such as a display panel) of the display 112 can also be provided on each keycap of the physical keyboard 11, as long as the physical keyboard 111 (or keyboard module 11) can be visually displayed on the electronic device. 10. Different information can be displayed in different states.

In one embodiment, the power state of the electronic device 10 can switch between multiple candidate power states. That is, at a point in time, the power state of the electronic device 10 may be one of the plurality of candidate power states. For example, the plurality of candidate power states may include power states S0˜S5 specified by Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI). The electronic device 10 has the highest power consumption per unit time in the power state S0. Power states S1~S5 are all low power supply states. The electronic device 10 has the lowest power consumption per unit time in the power state S5. Therefore, after switching from the power state S0 to any one of the power states S1 to S5, the power consumption per unit time of the electronic device 10 will decrease. Similarly, after switching back to the power state S0 from any one of the power states S1 to S5, the power consumption per unit time of the electronic device 10 will increase. In one embodiment, the power states S0, S3, S4 and S5 may be respectively called a normal working state, a sleep state, a hibernation state and a shutdown state. It should be noted that the definitions of each power state in the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) are conventional technologies and will not be described further here.

In one embodiment, when the electronic device 10 is in a specific power state (also referred to as the first power state), the keyboard module 11 can present key information through the display 112 . The display position (or presentation position) of this key information in the keyboard module 11 corresponds to the multiple physical keys in the keyboard module 11 . For example, the first power state may include power state S0 in Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a digital display keyboard presenting key information according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 , when the electronic device 10 is in the first power state, the keyboard module 11 can present key information 31 through the display 112 . For example, the key information 31 presented on the display 112 can penetrate multiple physical keys of the physical keyboard 111 for the user to view. For example, the key information 31 may describe character input functions, key preset functions and/or key names provided by at least some of the physical keys in the physical keyboard 111, as shown in FIG. 3 . Thereby, in the first power state, the user can operate the physical keyboard 111 according to the key information 31 presented on the physical keyboard 111 (for example, click on a specific physical key) to input characters or operation commands to the electronic device 10 .

It should be noted that the keyboard layout of the physical keyboard 111 depicted by the key information 31 in FIG. 3 is only an example and is not used to limit the present invention. In one embodiment, the description information corresponding to each physical key in the physical keyboard 111 in the key information 31 can be adjusted according to different keyboard layouts and practical requirements of the physical keyboard 111, and is not limited by the present invention.

In one embodiment, when the electronic device 10 is in another power state (also referred to as the second power state), the keyboard module 11 can display and communicate with the circuit modules 12(1)~12 in the electronic device 10 through the display 112. (n) Relevant status description information. In particular, the power consumption per unit time of the electronic device 10 in the first power state is higher than the power consumption per unit time of the electronic device 10 in the second power state. For example, the second power state includes one of power states S3 (ie, sleep state), S4 (ie, hibernation state), and S5 (ie, shutdown state) in the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI). In other words, in the second power state, the display 112 may stop presenting the keyboard information 31 as shown in FIG. 3 , and instead present the state description information.

In one embodiment, in the second power state, the main screen of the electronic device 10 (eg, the screen of a laptop) may be in a closed state or display a screen lock screen. At this time, the electronic device 10 cannot display the status of the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n) through its main screen. However, by using the display 112 in the keyboard module 11 to present status description information related to the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n) in the electronic device 10, the user can roughly obtain the circuit module 12(1) The current state of at least one of ~12(n).

In one embodiment, the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n) may include at least one of a battery module, a wireless communication module and a storage module. The battery module can be used to store and provide power required for the operation of the electronic device 10 . For example, a battery module may include batteries and power management circuitry. Power management circuitry can be used to manage charging and discharging of batteries. Wireless communication modules can be used to provide wireless communication functions based on wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth, WiFi, and Near Field Communication (NFC). For example, the wireless communication module may include wireless communication circuits such as antenna modules and radio frequency circuits. Storage modules can be used to store data. For example, the storage module may include data storage circuits such as a hard disk drive (HDD), flash memory (flash memory), and/or solid-state drive (SSD). In addition, the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n) may also include other types of circuit modules, which are not limited by the present invention.

In one embodiment, the status description information presented by the keyboard module 11 can be used to describe the current status of the battery modules in the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n). For example, the state description information may reflect the remaining power of the battery modules in the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n), whether the battery modules are in a charging state or a discharging state, and the charging efficiency of the battery modules in the charging state. , and at least one of the discharge efficiency of the battery module in the discharge state.

In one embodiment, the status description information presented by the keyboard module 11 can be used to describe the current status of the wireless communication modules in the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n). For example, the status description information may reflect the signal strength of the wireless communication modules in the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n) and/or whether the wireless communication modules support the remote wake-up function.

In one embodiment, the status description information presented by the keyboard module 11 can be used to describe the current status of the storage modules in the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n). For example, the status description information may reflect the remaining capacity of the storage modules in the circuit modules 12(1)˜12(n).

In one embodiment, the status description information presented by the keyboard module 11 includes variable content and template content. The variable content may change as the state of at least one of the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n) changes. For example, assume that the status description information currently presented by the keyboard module 11 is used to describe the status of the battery module. At this time, the variable content in the presented status description information can be used to describe the remaining power of the battery module. When the remaining power of the battery module changes, the variable content in the status description information presented will also change accordingly. However, the template content in the presented status description information can remain unchanged (for example, it does not change due to changes in the remaining power of the battery module). That is to say, the keyboard module 11 can change the variable content in the status description information according to the status of at least one of the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n), and the template content in the status description information is Can be maintained unchanged. In one embodiment, by reducing the variable content that needs to be changed in the process of presenting the status description information (or increasing the template content in the status description information), the power consumption of the key module 11 can be reduced.

4 to 6 are schematic diagrams of a digital display keyboard presenting status description information according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 4, in the second power state, it is assumed that the battery modules in the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n) are being charged. At this time, the keyboard module 11 can present status description information 41 related to the battery module. For example, the status description information 41 may reflect that the current battery module is in a "charging state" and it will take "78" minutes until the battery module is fully charged. In addition, the status description information 41 can also reflect that the current charging current, charging voltage and remaining power of the battery module are "1" amp, "12.9" volts and "56"% respectively. In particular, in the status description information 41, "charging status", "78", "1", "12.9" and "56" are all variable content (that is, they can be changed according to changes in the charging status of the battery module) , and the rest of the content is sample content (will not change with the change of the charging status of the battery module).

Referring to Figure 5, in the second power state, it is assumed that the battery modules in the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n) have been fully charged. At this time, the keyboard module 11 can instead present status description information 51 related to the battery module. For example, the status description information 51 may reflect that the current battery module is in a "fully charged state" and the current remaining power of the battery module is "100"%. In particular, in the status description information 51, "charge status" and "100" are both variable content (that is, they can be changed according to changes in the charging status of the battery module), while the rest of the content is template content (not Will change with the change of the charging status of the battery module).

Referring to FIG. 6 , in the second power state, it is assumed that the battery modules in the circuit modules 12(1)˜12(n) are not charged and are in a discharge state. At this time, the keyboard module 11 can instead present status description information 61 related to the battery module. For example, the status description information 61 may reflect that the current battery module is in a "discharging state" and that the battery module can maintain power supply for approximately "108" minutes before it is exhausted. In addition, the status description information 61 can also reflect that the current discharge current, discharge voltage and remaining power of the battery module are "0.2" amps, "12.3" volts and "16"% respectively. In particular, in the status description information 61, "discharge status", "108", "0.2", "12.3" and "16" are all variable content (that is, they can be changed according to changes in the discharge status of the battery module) , while the rest of the content is sample content (will not change with changes in the discharge status of the battery module).

It should be noted that in the embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 6 , the keyboard module 11 is used as an example to present status description information related to the battery module in the electronic device 10 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, status description information related to other types of circuit modules such as wireless communication modules or storage modules can also be presented by the keyboard module 11 in a similar manner, which will not be described again here.

Please return to Figure 1. In one embodiment, the electronic device 10 also includes an embedded controller (Embedded Controller, EC) 13, a platform controller hub (Platform Controller Hub, PCH) 15 and a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, CPU)14. The embedded controller 13 is coupled to the keyboard module 11 and the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n). The platform path controller 15 is coupled to the keyboard module 11 , the embedded controller 13 and the central processor 14 . The central processing unit 14 can be used to run specific applications. In particular, in the first power state, the application program can be used to control the keyboard module 11 to present keyboard information (eg, keyboard information 31 in FIG. 3 ). In addition, in the second power state, the embedded controller 13 can be used to control the keyboard module 11 to present status description information related to the circuit modules 12(1)~12(n) (for example, the status description information 41 of Figure 4 , the status description information 51 of Figure 5 or the status description information 61 of Figure 6).

In one embodiment, when the electronic device 10 is in the first power state, the application program run by the electronic device 10 or the central processor 14 can pass the signal path (also called the first signal path) 101 corresponding to the The display information of the key information (also called the first display information) is provided to the keyboard module 11 . For example, the signal path 101 may comply with or be compatible with the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard. The keyboard module 11 can present the key information according to the first display information. For example, in the first power state, the microcontroller 113 may receive the first display information via the signal path 101 . In response to the first display information, the microcontroller 113 may instruct the display 112 to present the key information.

In one embodiment, when the electronic device 10 is in the second power state, the embedded controller 13 may transmit the display information corresponding to the state description information (also known as the second signal path) 102 through the signal path (also known as the second signal path) 102 . is the second display information) provided to the keyboard module 11. For example, the signal path 102 may comply with or be compatible with the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) bus standard. The keyboard module 11 can present the status description information according to the second display information. For example, in the second power state, the microcontroller 113 may receive the second display information via the signal path 102 . In response to the second display information, the microcontroller 113 may instruct the display 112 to present the status description information. It should be noted that the signal path 101 is different from the signal path 102 . For example, the signal path 101 passes through the platform path controller 15 , but the signal path 102 does not pass through the platform path controller 15 .

In one embodiment, when the electronic device 10 is in the first power state, in response to a certain physical key (also called a target physical key) in the physical keyboard 111 being triggered (for example, clicked), the physical keyboard 111 (or keyboard The module 11) can transmit a trigger signal corresponding to the target physical button to the embedded controller 13 via the signal path (also referred to as the third signal path) 103. For example, the signal path 103 may comply with or be the same as the Keyboard Scan Out (KSO)/Keyboard Scan In (KSI) standard. In response to the trigger signal, the embedded controller 13 may report the keyboard code corresponding to the target physical key to the central processor 14 via the platform path controller 15 . Afterwards, the central processing unit 14 can perform corresponding processing according to the keyboard code, such as performing character input corresponding to the target physical key, and so on.

In one embodiment, in different power states, the application program (or the central processor 14) and the embedded controller 13 (or via the signal paths 101 and 102) respectively provide corresponding display information (such as image data) to The keyboard module 11 performs information presentation and can avoid conflicts in the supply of displayed information.

In one embodiment, in response to a change in the power status of the electronic device 10 , the provider of the display information may be switched between the application program (or the central processor 14 ) and the embedded controller 13 . In one embodiment, in response to a change in the power state of the electronic device 10, the supply path of the display information may be switched between the signal paths 101 and 102. In one embodiment, in response to a change in the power state of the electronic device 10, the information presented by the keyboard module 11 can be switched between the keyboard information and the state description information. Thereby, the convenience of the user's daily operation or maintenance of the electronic device 10 can be effectively improved.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for presenting status description information according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, in step S701, it is determined whether the electronic device is in the first power state. If so (that is, the electronic device is in the first power state), in step S702, the key information is presented through the display in the digital display keyboard of the electronic device, wherein the display position of the key information in the digital display keyboard is consistent with the digit. Multiple physical keys in the display keyboard correspond to each other. If not (that is, the electronic device is not in the first power state or the electronic device is in the second power state), in step S703, a display related to at least one circuit in the electronic device is displayed through the display in the digital display keyboard of the electronic device. Status description information related to the module.

However, each step in Figure 7 has been described in detail above and will not be described again here. It is worth noting that each step in Figure 7 can be implemented as multiple program codes or circuits, and is not limited in this case. In addition, the method in Figure 7 can be used in conjunction with the above example embodiments or can be used alone, and is not limited in this case.

In summary, embodiments of the present invention can enable a digital display keyboard or similar keyboard module to present keyboard information or status description information related to a specific circuit module in the electronic device under different power states of the electronic device. Thereby, the convenience of the user's daily operation or maintenance of the electronic device 10 can be effectively improved.

Although this case has been disclosed as above using embodiments, they are not intended to limit this case. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of this case. Therefore, the protection of this case The scope shall be determined by the appended patent application scope.

10: Electronic devices 11: Keyboard module (digital display keyboard) 111:Physical keyboard 112:Display 113:Microcontroller 12(1)~12(n): Circuit module 13:Embedded controller 14:CPU 15:Platform path controller 101~103: Signal path 21:User 201: Direction 31:Keyboard information 41, 51, 61: Status description information S701~S703: steps

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a keyboard module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a digital display keyboard presenting key information according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 to 6 are schematic diagrams of a digital display keyboard presenting status description information according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for presenting status description information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

S701~S703: steps

Claims (16)

A method of presenting status description information for an electronic device. The electronic device has a digital display keyboard. The digital display keyboard includes a physical keyboard and a display. The method of presenting status description information includes: when the electronic device is in a first power state. When the display displays key information through the physical keyboard, the display position of the key information in the digital display keyboard corresponds to a plurality of physical keys in the physical keyboard; and when the electronic device is in the second power state , the display presents status description information related to at least one circuit module in the electronic device through the physical keyboard, wherein the power consumption per unit time of the electronic device in the first power state is higher than that of the electronic device in the first power state. The power consumption per unit time in the second power state. The method for presenting status description information as described in claim 1, wherein the second power state includes one of a sleep state, a hibernation state, and a shutdown state. The method for presenting status description information as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit module includes at least one of a battery module, a wireless communication module and a storage module. The method for presenting status description information as described in claim 3, wherein the status description information reflects the remaining power of the battery module, whether the battery module is in a charging state or a discharging state, and the charging status of the battery module in the charging state. At least one of the efficiency and the discharge efficiency of the battery module in the discharge state. The method of presenting status description information as described in claim 3, wherein the status description information reflects at least one of the signal strength of the wireless communication module and whether the wireless communication module supports the remote wake-up function. The method for presenting status description information as described in claim 1, wherein the status description information includes variable content and template content, and is presented by the display through the physical keyboard and is related to the at least one circuit module in the electronic device. The step of describing the status information includes: changing the variable content according to the status of the at least one circuit module, and the template content remains unchanged. The method for presenting status description information as described in claim 1 further includes: when the electronic device is in the first power state, an application program run by the electronic device transmits the key information corresponding to the key information through the first signal path. The first display information is provided to the digital display keyboard; and when the electronic device is in the second power state, the embedded controller provides second display information corresponding to the state description information to the digital display via the second signal path. A keyboard is displayed, wherein the embedded controller is coupled to the at least one circuit module, and the first signal path is different from the second signal path. The method for presenting status description information as described in claim 7 further includes: when the electronic device is in the first power state, in response to the plurality of entity presses The target physical button in the key is triggered, and a trigger signal corresponding to the target physical button is sent to the embedded controller through the third signal path. An electronic device includes: a digital display keyboard, including a display and a physical keyboard, wherein the digital display keyboard is used to: when the electronic device is in a first power state, the display displays key information through the physical keyboard, wherein the key information The display position in the digital display keyboard corresponds to a plurality of physical keys in the physical keyboard; and when the electronic device is in the second power state, the display displays at least one key in the electronic device through the physical keyboard. State description information related to the circuit module, wherein the power consumption per unit time of the electronic device in the first power state is higher than the power consumption per unit time of the electronic device in the second power state. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the second power state includes one of a sleep state, a hibernation state, and a shutdown state. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the at least one circuit module includes at least one of a battery module, a wireless communication module and a storage module. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the status description information reflects the remaining power of the battery module, whether the battery module is in a charging state or a discharging state, the charging efficiency of the battery module in the charging state, and the At least one of the discharge efficiencies of the battery module in the discharge state. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the status description information reflects at least one of signal strength of the wireless communication module and whether the wireless communication module supports a remote wake-up function. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the status description information includes variable content and template content, and the display presents the status description related to the at least one circuit module in the electronic device through the physical keyboard. The information operation includes: changing the variable content according to the state of the at least one circuit module, and keeping the template content unchanged. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising: a central processing unit for running an application program and coupled to the digital display keyboard through a first signal path; and an embedded controller coupled to the at least one circuit module The set is coupled to the digital display keyboard via a second signal path, wherein when the electronic device is in the first power state, the application provides first display information corresponding to the key information via the first signal path. the digital display keyboard, and when the electronic device is in the second power state, the embedded controller provides second display information corresponding to the status description information to the digital display keyboard via the second signal path, wherein the The first signal path is different from the second signal path. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein when the electronic device is in the first power state, in response to a target physical key among the plurality of physical keys being triggered, the digital display keyboard is further configured to pass a third signal path Send a trigger signal corresponding to the target entity button to the embedded controller.

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