TWI839016B - Hot swapping electronic device and method for preventing crash of hot swapping electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A hot swapping electronic device and a method for preventing crash of the hot swapping electronic device are presented, wherein the method for preventing the crash of the hot swapping electronic device comprises: through a controller, detecting whether the hot swapping electronic device is in a power-on state; when the hot swapping electronic device is in the power-on state, the controller detects whether a power port is connected to an alternative current power; when the power port is not connected to the alternative current power, through a first sensor, detecting whether a first battery moves from a first battery slot; through a second sensor, detecting whether a second battery moves from a second battery slot, when the first sensor detects that the first battery moves from the first battery slot or the second sensor detects that the second battery moves from the second battery slot, the controller reduces system power consumption of the hot swapping electronic device.

Description

Hot-swappable electronic device and method for preventing hot-swappable electronic device from crashing

The present invention relates to an electronic device and a protection method thereof, and in particular to a hot-swappable electronic device and a method for preventing a hot-swappable electronic device from crashing.

Currently, electronic devices with two batteries on the market usually have hot-swap function. The so-called hot-swap function means that when the electronic device is turned on, one of the batteries can be directly removed from the electronic device, and the electronic device can continue to operate.

However, when an electronic device completely relies on a single battery for power supply, if the system load of the electronic device is too large, the single battery's power supply is insufficient, which can easily cause the electronic device to suddenly crash, interrupting the user's operation of the electronic device.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a hot-swappable electronic device and a method for preventing a hot-swappable electronic device from crashing in view of the deficiencies of the existing technology.

In order to solve the above technical problems, one of the technical solutions adopted by the present invention is to provide a hot-swappable electronic device, and the hot-swappable electronic device includes a first battery mounting slot, a first battery, a second battery mounting slot, a second battery, a power connection port, a controller, a first sensor and a second sensor. The first battery is mounted in the first battery mounting slot, and the second battery is mounted in the second battery mounting slot. The controller is electrically connected to the power connection port, and the first sensor is electrically connected to the controller and assembled to the first battery mounting slot. When the first battery leaves the first battery mounting slot, the first sensor sends a first trigger signal to the controller. The second sensor is electrically connected to the controller and assembled to the second battery mounting slot. When the second battery leaves the second battery mounting slot, the second sensor sends a second trigger signal to the controller. The controller is used to determine whether the hot-swappable electronic device is in a powered-on state and whether the power port is connected to an AC power source. When the hot-swappable electronic device is in a powered-on state, the power port is not connected to an AC power source, and the controller receives a first trigger signal or a second trigger signal, the controller reduces the system power consumption of the hot-swappable electronic device.

In order to solve the above technical problems, another technical solution adopted by the present invention is a method for preventing a hot-swappable electronic device from crashing, and the method for preventing a hot-swappable electronic device from crashing includes: detecting whether the power connection port is connected to an AC power source through a controller; when the power connection port is not connected to an AC power source, determining whether the hot-swappable electronic device is in a powered-on state through a controller; when the hot-swappable electronic device is in a powered-on state, detecting whether the first battery leaves the first battery mounting slot through a first sensor and detecting whether the second battery leaves the second battery mounting slot through a second sensor; and when the first battery leaves the first battery mounting slot or the second battery leaves the second battery mounting slot, reducing the system power consumption of the hot-swappable electronic device through a controller.

In order to solve the above technical problems, another technical solution adopted by the present invention is a method for preventing a hot-swappable electronic device from crashing, and the method for preventing a hot-swappable electronic device from crashing includes: detecting whether a power connection port is connected to an AC power source through a controller; when the power connection port is not connected to an AC power source, determining whether the hot-swappable electronic device is in a powered-on state through a controller; when the hot-swappable electronic device is in a powered-on state, detecting whether a first battery leaves a first battery mounting slot through a first sensor and detecting whether a second battery leaves a second battery mounting slot through a second sensor; and when the first battery leaves the first battery mounting slot or the second battery leaves the second battery mounting slot, reducing the system power consumption of the hot-swappable electronic device through a controller.

One of the beneficial effects of the present invention is that the hot-swappable electronic device and the method for preventing the hot-swappable electronic device from crashing provided by the present invention can still operate stably without crashing suddenly when the user removes the first battery or the second battery from the hot-swappable electronic device, so that the user's operation of the hot-swappable electronic device will not be interrupted by the crash event.

To further understand the features and technical contents of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention. However, the drawings provided are only for reference and description and are not used to limit the present invention.

101: First battery installation slot

102: Second battery installation slot

103: First Battery

104: Second battery

105: First sensor

106: Second sensor

107: First battery cover

108: Second battery cover

109: Controller

110: Memory

111: Power port

112: Central Processing Unit

113: First backlight source

114: Second backlight source

115: Status indicator light

P1: First pin

P2: Second pin

P3: Third pin

P4: Fourth pin

P5: Fifth pin

P6: Sixth pin

P7: Seventh pin

BIOS: Basic Input Output System

PN: Display panel

KB:Key

S301~S307: Steps

S401~S407: Steps

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of the first embodiment of the hot-swappable electronic device of the present invention.

FIG2 is a functional block diagram of the first embodiment of the hot-swappable electronic device of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flow chart of the first embodiment of the hot-swappable electronic device crash prevention method of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a flow chart of the second embodiment of the hot-swappable electronic device crash prevention method of the present invention.

The following is a specific embodiment to illustrate the implementation method of the "hot-swappable electronic device and hot-swappable electronic device crash prevention method" disclosed in the present invention. Technical personnel in this field can understand the advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this manual. The present invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details in this manual can also be modified and changed based on different viewpoints and applications without deviating from the concept of the present invention. In addition, the attached drawings of the present invention are only for simple schematic illustrations and are not depicted according to actual sizes. Please note in advance. The following implementation method will further explain the relevant technical content of the present invention in detail, but the disclosed content is not used to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

It should be understood that although the terms "first", "second", "third" and the like may be used in this article to describe various components or signals, these components or signals should not be limited by these terms. These terms are mainly used to distinguish one component from another component, or one signal from another signal. In addition, the term "or" used in this article may include any one or more combinations of the related listed items depending on the actual situation.

FIG1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the hot-swappable electronic device of the present invention. As shown in FIG1 , the hot-swappable electronic device is, for example, a notebook computer, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the hot-swappable electronic device includes a first battery mounting slot 101, a second battery mounting slot 102, a first battery 103, a second battery 104, a first sensor 105, a second sensor 106, a first battery cover 107, and a second battery cover 108, wherein the first sensor 105 and the second sensor 106 are, for example, two Hall sensors, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The first battery 103 is detachably mounted in the first battery mounting slot 101, and the first sensor 105 is disposed in the first battery mounting slot 101. When the first battery 103 is mounted in the first battery mounting slot 101, the first battery 103 contacts the first sensor 105. The second battery 104 is detachably mounted in the second battery mounting slot 102, and the second sensor 106 is disposed in the second battery mounting slot 102. When the second battery 104 is mounted in the second battery mounting slot 102, the second battery 104 contacts the second sensor 106. The first battery cover 107 is detachably assembled to the first battery mounting slot 101 to cover the first battery 103, and the second battery cover 108 is detachably assembled to the second battery mounting slot 102 to shield the second battery 104.

FIG2 is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of the hot-swappable electronic device of the present invention. Referring to FIG1 and FIG2 together, the hot-swappable electronic device further includes a controller 109, a memory 110, a power connection port 111, a central processing unit 112, a first backlight source 113, a second backlight source 114, and a status indicator 115. The controller 109 is, for example, an embedded controller, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The controller 109 includes a first pin P1, a second pin P2, a third pin P3, and a fourth pin P4, wherein the memory 110 stores a basic input and output system BIOS, and the first pin P1 of the controller 109 is electrically connected to the memory 110. The second pin P2 of the controller 109 is electrically connected to the power connection port 111. The third pin P3 of the controller 109 is electrically connected to the first sensor 105, and the fourth pin P4 of the controller 109 is electrically connected to the second sensor 106. When the first battery 103 leaves the first battery mounting slot 101, the first sensor 105 is triggered to send a first trigger signal to the controller 109. Similarly, when the second battery 104 leaves the second battery mounting slot 102, the second sensor 106 is triggered to send a second trigger signal to the controller 109.

The controller 109 further includes a fifth pin P5, a sixth pin P6, and a seventh pin P7, wherein the controller 109 is electrically connected to the central processing unit 112 via the PECI bus, and the fifth pin P5 of the controller 109 is electrically connected to the first backlight source 113, and the first backlight source 113 is, for example, provided in the display panel PN of the hot-plug electronic device. The sixth pin P6 of the controller 109 is electrically connected to the second backlight source 114, and the second backlight source 114 is, for example, provided in the key KB of the hot-plug electronic device. The seventh pin P7 of the controller 109 is electrically connected to the status display light 115. Thus, the controller 109 can control the operating frequency of the central processing unit 112, the brightness of the first backlight source 113, the brightness of the second backlight source 114, and the brightness of the status display light 115.

The controller 109 determines whether the hot-plug electronic device is in a power-on state according to the parameters of the basic input-output system BIOS. When the controller 109 confirms that the hot-plug electronic device is in a power-on state, the controller 109 then determines whether the power connection port 111 is connected to the AC power source. When the controller 109 confirms that the power connection port 111 is not connected to the AC power source, the controller 109 determines whether a first trigger signal from the first sensor 105 or a second trigger signal from the second sensor 106 is received. When the controller 109 confirms that the first trigger signal from the first sensor 105 or the second trigger signal from the second sensor 106 is received, the controller 109 reduces the system power consumption of the hot-plug electronic device. Regarding reducing system power consumption, for example, the controller 109 reduces at least one of the operating frequency of the central processing unit 112, the brightness of the first backlight source 113, the brightness of the second backlight source 114, and the brightness of the status display light 115.

Regarding other embodiments of the hot-swappable electronic device of the present invention, the difference is that the first sensor 105 is connected between the first battery mounting slot 101 and the first battery cover 107, and the second sensor 106 is connected between the second battery mounting slot 102 and the second battery cover 108. When the first sensor 105 detects that the first battery cover 107 is detached from the first battery mounting slot 101, the first sensor 105 sends a first trigger signal to the controller 109. Similarly, when the second sensor 106 detects that the second battery cover 108 is detached from the second battery mounting slot 102, the second sensor 106 sends a second trigger signal to the controller 109.

FIG3 is a flow chart of the first embodiment of the hot-swappable electronic device crash prevention method of the present invention. As shown in FIG3, regarding step S301, the controller 109 is used to determine whether the hot-swappable electronic device is in a boot state. Specifically, the controller 109 determines whether the hot-swappable electronic device is in a boot state by reading the parameters of the basic input and output system BIOS in the memory 110.

When the controller 109 confirms that the hot-swappable electronic device is in the power-on state, the process proceeds to step S303. When the controller 109 confirms that the hot-swappable electronic device is not in the power-on state, the process proceeds to step S301 again.

Regarding step S303, the controller 109 is used to determine whether the power connection port 111 of the hot-swappable electronic device is connected to the AC power source. When the controller 109 confirms that the power connection port 111 of the hot-swappable electronic device is not connected to the AC power source, the process proceeds to step S305. When the controller 109 confirms that the power connection port 111 of the hot-swappable electronic device is connected to the AC power source, the process returns to step S301.

Regarding step S305, the first sensor 105 and the second sensor 106 are used to detect whether the first battery 103 leaves the first battery mounting slot 101 or the second battery 104 leaves the second battery mounting slot 102. When the first battery 103 leaves the first battery mounting slot 101 or the second battery 104 leaves the second battery mounting slot 102, step S307 is performed. When the first battery 103 does not leave the first battery mounting slot 101 and the second battery 104 does not leave the second battery mounting slot 102, the process returns to step S301. Specifically, when the first battery 103 leaves the first battery mounting slot 101, the first sensor 105 sends a first trigger signal to the controller 109. When the second battery 104 leaves the second battery installation slot 102, the second sensor 106 sends a second trigger signal to the controller 109. Therefore, when the controller 109 receives the first trigger signal or the second trigger signal, it indicates that one of the first battery 103 and the second battery 104 has left the hot-swappable electronic device.

Regarding step S307, the system power consumption of the hot-swappable electronic device is reduced through the controller 109, and then the process returns to step S301. For example, the system power consumption is reduced by reducing at least one of the operating frequency of the central processing unit 112, the backlight brightness of the display panel PN, the backlight brightness of the key KB, and the brightness of the status display light 115.

FIG4 is a flow chart of the second embodiment of the hot-pluggable electronic device crash prevention method of the present invention. As shown in FIG4, regarding step S401, the controller 109 is used to determine whether the power connection port 111 of the hot-pluggable electronic device is connected to the AC power supply. When the controller 109 confirms that the power connection port 111 of the hot-pluggable electronic device is not connected to the AC power supply, step S403 is performed. When the controller 109 confirms that the power connection port 111 of the hot-pluggable electronic device is connected to the AC power supply, step S401 is executed again.

Regarding step S403, the controller 109 is used to determine whether the hot-swappable electronic device is in the power-on state. When the controller 109 confirms that the hot-swappable electronic device is in the power-on state, the process proceeds to step S405. When the controller 109 confirms that the hot-swappable electronic device is not in the power-on state, the process returns to step S401.

Regarding step S405, the first sensor 105 and the second sensor 106 are used to detect whether the first battery 103 leaves the first battery mounting slot 101 or the second battery 104 leaves the second battery mounting slot 102. When the first battery 103 leaves the first battery mounting slot 101 or the second battery 104 leaves the second battery mounting slot 102, step S407 is performed. When the first battery 103 does not leave the first battery mounting slot 101 and the second battery 104 does not leave the second battery mounting slot 102, the process returns to step S401. Specifically, when the first battery 103 leaves the first battery mounting slot 101, the first sensor 105 sends a first trigger signal to the controller 109. When the second battery 104 leaves the second battery installation slot 102, the second sensor 106 sends a second trigger signal to the controller 109. Therefore, when the controller 109 receives the first trigger signal or the second trigger signal, it indicates that one of the first battery 103 and the second battery 104 has left the hot-swappable electronic device.

Regarding step S407, the system power consumption of the hot-swappable electronic device is reduced through the controller 109, and then the process returns to step S401. For example, reducing the system power consumption includes reducing at least one of the operating frequency of the CPU 112 of the hot-swappable electronic device, the backlight brightness of the display panel PN, the backlight brightness of the key KB, and the brightness of the status display light 115.

[Beneficial effects of the embodiment]

One of the beneficial effects of the present invention is that the hot-swappable electronic device and the method for preventing the hot-swappable electronic device from crashing provided by the present invention can ensure that when the user removes the first battery or the second battery from the hot-swappable electronic device, the hot-swappable electronic device can still operate stably without crashing suddenly, so that the user's operation of the hot-swappable electronic device will not be interrupted by the crash event.

The above disclosed contents are only the preferred feasible embodiments of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made by using the contents of the description and drawings of the present invention are included in the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

103: First Battery

104: Second battery

105: First sensor

106: Second sensor

109: Controller

110: Memory

111: Power port

112: Central Processing Unit

113: First backlight source

114: Second backlight source

115: Status indicator light

P1: First pin

P2: Second pin

P3: Third pin

P4: Fourth pin

P5: Fifth pin

P6: Sixth pin

P7: Seventh pin

BIOS: Basic Input Output System

PN: Display panel

KB:Key

Claims (10)

A hot-swappable electronic device includes: a first battery mounting slot; a first battery, mounted in the first battery mounting slot; a second battery mounting slot; a second battery, mounted in the second battery mounting slot; a power connection port; a controller, electrically connected to the power connection port; and a first sensor, electrically connected to the controller and assembled to the first battery mounting slot, when the first battery leaves the first battery mounting slot, the first sensor sends a first trigger signal to the controller; a second sensor, electrically connected to the controller and assembled to the second battery mounting slot, when the second battery leaves the second battery mounting slot, the second sensor sends a second trigger signal to the controller; The controller is used to determine whether the hot-swappable electronic device is in a power-on state and whether the power connection port is connected to an AC power source. When the hot-swappable electronic device is in the power-on state, the power connection port is not connected to the AC power source, and the controller receives the first trigger signal or the second trigger signal, the controller reduces the system power consumption of the hot-swappable electronic device. A hot-swappable electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the controller is connected to a central processing unit and a backlight source, and when the hot-swappable electronic device is in the power-on state, the power connection port is not connected to the AC power source and the controller receives the first trigger signal or the second trigger signal, the controller reduces at least one of the operating frequency of the central processing unit and the brightness of the backlight source. A hot-swappable electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the controller is an embedded controller, and the first sensor and the second sensor are two Hall sensors. A method for preventing a hot-swappable electronic device from crashing includes: Determining whether the hot-swappable electronic device is in a power-on state through a controller; When the hot-swappable electronic device is in the power-on state, detecting whether a power connection port is connected to an AC power source through the controller; When the power connection port is not connected to the AC power source, detecting whether a first battery leaves a first battery installation slot through a first sensor and detecting whether a second battery leaves a second battery installation slot through a second sensor; When the first battery leaves the first battery installation slot or the second battery leaves the second battery installation slot, reducing the system power consumption of the hot-swappable electronic device through the controller. A method for preventing a hot-swappable electronic device from crashing as described in claim 4, wherein when the power connection port is not connected to the AC power source, the controller is used to detect again whether the hot-swappable electronic device is in the power-on state; when the first battery has not left the first battery installation slot and the second battery has not left the second battery installation slot, the controller is used to detect again whether the hot-swappable electronic device is in the power-on state. A method for preventing a hot-swappable electronic device from crashing as described in claim 4, wherein when the first battery leaves the first battery installation slot, the first sensor sends a first trigger signal to the controller; when the second battery leaves the second battery installation slot, the second sensor sends a second trigger signal to the controller; when the controller receives the first trigger signal or the second trigger signal, the controller reduces the system power consumption of the hot-swappable electronic device. A method for preventing a hot-pluggable electronic device from crashing as described in claim 4, wherein reducing the system power consumption of the hot-pluggable electronic device includes reducing at least one of an operating frequency of a central processing unit and a brightness of a backlight source. A method for preventing a hot-swappable electronic device from crashing includes: Detecting whether a power connection port is connected to an AC power source through a controller; When the power connection port is not connected to the AC power source, determining whether the hot-swappable electronic device is in a power-on state through the controller; When the hot-swappable electronic device is in the power-on state, detecting whether a first battery leaves a first battery mounting slot through a first sensor and detecting whether a second battery leaves a second battery mounting slot through a second sensor; and When the first battery leaves the first battery mounting slot or the second battery leaves the second battery mounting slot, reducing the system power consumption of the hot-swappable electronic device through the controller. A method for preventing a hot-swappable electronic device from crashing as described in claim 8, wherein when the first battery has not left the first battery mounting slot and the second battery has not left the second battery mounting slot, the controller is used to detect again whether the power connection port is connected to the AC power source; when the hot-swappable electronic device is not in the power-on state, the controller is used to detect again whether the power connection port is connected to the AC power source. A method for preventing a hot-pluggable electronic device from crashing as described in claim 8, wherein reducing the system power consumption of the hot-pluggable electronic device includes at least one of reducing the operating frequency of a central processing unit and reducing the brightness of a backlight source.

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