Electricity: power supply or regulation systems – External or operator controlled – Using a three or more terminal semiconductive device as the...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-01
2002-07-09
Berhane, Adolf Deneke (Department: 2838)
Electricity: power supply or regulation systems
External or operator controlled
Using a three or more terminal semiconductive device as the...
C307S038000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06417657
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a controller for controlling power source connections to a circuit in an electrical apparatus and a method thereof. More particularly, it relates to a power source connection controller for automatically disconnecting a power source of an electrical apparatus and returning from an automatic power-off state and a method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Microcomputers are included in various types of electrical apparatuses as an internal circuit.
FIG. 8
shows an example of connection among a microcomputer
72
, a power supply circuit
74
, and control switches SW
1
, SW
2
, and SW
3
. The microcomputer
72
is connected to the power supply circuit
74
via a power source connecting switch SWPW. On closing the switch SWPW, a predetermined voltage is applied to the microcomputer
72
. The circuit
74
converts and/or regulates a voltage supplied from a power source (not shown). A battery may be used for a power source. An ordinary plug socket wired within a house may be also used as a power source. In
FIG. 8
, the circuit
74
supplies a voltage E required for operation of the microcomputer
72
between terminals INp and Inn.
The microcomputer
72
shown in
FIG. 8
has 3 inputs (I/O-
1
, I/O-
2
, and I/O-
3
) and one output (I/O-
0
). I/O-
1
is connected to ground via the switch SW
1
. I/O-
2
and I/O-
3
are respectively connected to ground via the switches SW
2
and SW
3
as well. “Ground” is not always limited to a ground voltage level, but it may be any desired voltage level. SW
1
, SW
2
, and SW
3
are push-button switches. The contacts S
1
c
and S
2
d
of SW
1
are normally open, and closed while pressing SW
1
. The contacts S
2
c
and S
2
d
, and the contacts S
3
c
and S
3
d
are similarly closed while pressing the switches SW
2
and SW
3
.
Predetermined functions (Function
1
, Function
2
, and Function
3
) executable by a microcomputer are assigned to each control switch (SW
1
, SW
2
, and SW
3
). Since I/O-
1
is connected to ground after SW
1
is pressed, the microcomputer
72
detects that I/O-
1
has been connected to the ground, and executes Function
1
assigned to SW
1
. Similarly, on pressing SW
2
and SW
3
, the microcomputer
72
respectively executes Function
2
and Function
3
. It is necessary to keep pressing a control switch for a predetermined time sufficient to allow the microcomputer
72
to recognize that the control switch has been pressed. Generally, keeping a press of a control switch for tens to hundreds milliseconds will be sufficient for the microcomputer
72
to recognize that the control switch has been pressed.
A power-off signal PWOFF for opening the power source connecting switch SWPW is outputted from I/O-
0
of the microcomputer
72
. If any of control switches SW
1
, SW
2
, and SW
3
, for example, have never been pressed within a predetermined time, the signal PWOFF is automatically sent from the microcomputer
72
. If a predetermined time has elapsed since a control switch was pressed the last time, the power source is automatically shut off.
FIG. 8
illustrates closing and opening of the connecting switch SWPW between the power supply circuit
74
and the microcomputer
72
. There may be a case where a connecting switch SWP
1
is provided between a power source
76
and the power supply circuit
74
as shown in
FIG. 9
(
a
) because actual electrical apparatus may include a device other than a microcomputer as well. In
FIG. 9
(
a
), the power source
76
can be disconnected from an entire electrical apparatus
70
including the microcomputer
72
by opening SWP
1
. As shown in
FIG. 9
(
b
), a connecting switch SWP
2
between the circuit
74
and other device
80
may be opened and closed. In
FIG. 9
(
b
), the other device
80
is disconnected from the circuit
74
by opening only SWP
2
, so that the microcomputer
72
may remain connected to the circuit
74
.
In
FIG. 9
(
a
), the switch SWP
1
for connecting the power source
76
to the power supply circuit
74
for supplying a required voltage to the microcomputer
72
and other device
80
is opened by the power-off signal PWOFF sent from the microcomputer
72
. After SWP
1
is opened, power supply to the entire electrical apparatus including the microcomputer
72
is cut off Power consumption of the electrical apparatus
70
at this time is zero. When operation is not performed for a predetermined time, it is possible to prevent power consumption by automatically disconnecting the power source
76
. However, the power supply needs to be reconnected to operate the electrical apparatus
70
again because the power source
76
is completely turned off. It is necessary to close the switch SWP
1
by the power switch SWPW before pressing the control switches SW
1
, SW
2
, and SW
3
.
In
FIG. 9
(
b
), the switch SWP
2
for connecting the power supply circuit
74
to other device
80
is opened by a power-off signal PWOFF from the microcomputer
72
. Upon opening of SWP
2
, power supply to other device
80
is shut off. Since SWP
1
for connecting the power source
76
to the power supply circuit
74
keeps closed, a required voltage is supplied from the circuit
74
to the microcomputer
72
. The power consumption of an electrical apparatus
78
in this case does not become zero because the circuit
74
and the microcomputer
72
consume power. On pressing SW
1
, SW
2
or SW
3
, the microcomputer
72
automatically closes SWP
2
to enable other device
80
and performs the function assigned to the pressed manipulation switch button. It is not necessary to turn on the power source afresh like the electrical apparatus
70
shown in
FIG. 9
(
a
), but in
FIG. 9
(
b
), the power consumption does not become zero due to continued power supply to the microcomputer
72
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique which can reduce power consumption of an electrical apparatus by an automatic power-off and in addition can perform easily and quickly return from the automatic power-off state. A power source connection controller according to the present invention comprises: (a) a power source connecting switch connected between a power source and an internal circuit of an electrical apparatus; (b) means for controlling opening and closing of the power source connecting switch, the controlling means being connected between the power source and the power source connecting switch; (c) a first switch for inputting a signal to the internal circuit to provide instructions for executing a predetermined function provided for the electrical apparatus; and (d) a second switch for causing the controlling means to close the power source connecting switch, the second switch being connected between the power source and the controlling means, the first and second switches operating jointly. Upon receipt of a power-off signal from the internal circuit, the controlling means releases the power source connecting switch from closed state. The power source connection controlling method according to the present invention includes the steps of: providing instructions for an internal circuit to execute a predetermined function provided for the electrical apparatus, while the power source is shut off, connecting the power source to the internal circuit in synchronization with the instruction to the internal circuit; and allowing the internal circuit to execute the predetermined function after the power source is connected to the internal circuit. The power source connection controlling method further includes a step of disconnecting the power source from the internal circuit in response to the power-off signal, from the internal circuit.
According to the present invention, when control switches are not pressed for a predetermined time or longer, power consumption can be reduced to zero by automatically cutting off a power source. When an electrical apparatus is not in active use, its power consumption can be reduced. Even if the power source is in a power-off state, t
Azuma Keiichi
Takahara Tsuneo
Berhane Adolf Deneke
International Business Machines - Corporation
Schelkopf J. Bruce
LandOfFree
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