Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Computer power control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-05
2001-08-14
Thai, Xuan M. (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Computer power control
C713S320000, C713S340000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275947
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a control circuit to wake up or turn on a computer via a peripheral device. More particularly, the invention relates to a control circuit and a method to wake up or turn on a computer while it is in a standby or off state without using panel switch.
2. Description of the Related Art
A pure mechanical touch-type panel switch is used to turn on/off a power supply in a conventional personal computer (PC) or a workstation with a microprocessor as a kernel. The power supply includes an alternating current (ac) source such as a domestic electricity supply. When the power source is open, there is no power supplied to the power supply of the system, so that the system is in an off state. On the contrary, when the power source is switched to a close state, an ac current is supplied to the power supply of the system. The power supply can thus supply various direct (dc), typically positive
egative (+/−) 5V and positive
egative (+/−) 12V to turn on the computer system. This mechanical type power switch has to be switched manually to turn on/off the computer. Without an operator, the system can not be turned on or off.
A series of Macintosh personal computers developed by Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, Calif. uses a power-on key on the keyboard to turn on/off the computer system. This is a very handy way for turning on/off the computer system.
The Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif. also proposed an ATX specification of a personal computer. In the ATX specification, a mechanical on/off switch is not used any more as the power supply to directly control system. Instead, the ATX specification uses a circuit in an internal control chip to manage and control the power supply of the computer system. That is, a software control concept is implanted. Various types of switching on/off methods can be applied to control a computer system without being restricted by a mechanically switch which can only set and control the computer in an on or an off state.
For example, the version 2.01 of the ATX specification comprises a spare power source 5VSB which supplies a dc voltage of 5V and a maximum current of 0.7 A. The spare power source 5VSB can thus drive a basic power source control circuit of the computer system under the off state. Functions to advantage the operation can be achieved by setting the control circuit. For example, the system can be preset to be turned on automatically at night. Therefore, an international facsimile can be sent during a period of time which has a cheaper calling rate without the presence of an operator. Moreover, while no operator is available or present, the system can be turned on by an incoming event such as a signal received by a modem. The system can thus receive the incoming message or document automatically.
However, the above power source on/off control is restricted to only turn on/off the system. To control the computer system while it is still in an on state is not disclosed. The Intel, Microsoft, and Toshiba later disclose an advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) interface to specify four standby states for a computer system during a working and off state. The state of the computer is determined according the working load of the computer to save energy. According to the saved energy, the state of the computer may comprise S1 to S4 states. In the S1 state, the central processing unit (CPU) clock is stopped. The S2 state is a “suspend to RAM” state, the S3 state is a “suspend to disk state”, and the S4 state is a soft off state. When the system is in the “suspended to RAM” state, apart from the real-time clock, the other clock pulse has been stopped. The CPU and other circuits are stopped without being supplied by any clock pulse. If a user want to wake up the system, he/she has to press a panel switch to notice the computer back to an operation state. Meanwhile, the keyboard controller and the infrared controller (or the serial port) can not function to wake up the system since they both have stopped working.
FIG. 1
shows diagram illustrating the connection relationship between a peripheral device
11
and a peripheral device controller
12
of a computer system. When the state of the computer system is in the “suspended to RAM” state, the peripheral device controller
12
has stopped functioning. Therefore, the task to wake up the system can not be done by the peripheral device
11
. If a user wants to wake up the system, he/she has to press a panel switch to generate and send a signal PENAL_SW_IN to chipset
13
on a mother board
10
. Thus, when the system is in a standby state, the computer can only be woken up through the panel switch. While the system is in an off state, it is impossible to be turned up via the peripheral device
11
.
Thus, according to the conventional method, no matter if the computer is in a standby or an off state, only the current existent switching method, for example, by a panel switch, a keyboard, a mouse, an alarm, a modem, or a network, can achieve the wake-up or turn-on task. The task can not be achieved by way of a peripheral device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a control circuit comprising a MIDI port of a peripheral device to turn on or wake up a computer. The control circuit is coupled between the peripheral device and a main bus. The control circuit further comprises a MIDI receiver, a register, a comparator, and a power supply controller. The MIDI receiver is coupled to the peripheral device to receive a MIDI_IN signal of the peripheral device. The register is used to store data information with a default value. By the comparator, the MIDI_IN signal is compared to the data information of the register, so that an enable signal is output when the default value is equal to a value of the MIDI_IN signal. Whereas, the power supply controller is coupled to the comparator to wake up or turn on the computer system according to the enabling signal sent from the comparator.
Therefore, no matter if the computer system is in a standby state or an off state, the computer system may be woken up or turned on back to a normal operating state. In addition to the conventional method to wake up or turned on the computer system via a panel switch, an accessory, or other mechanical way, the computer system may also be woken up or turned on by a peripheral device.
The invention further provides a method to turn on or wake up a computer via a peripheral device comprising a MIDI port. The computer system comprises at least a control circuit, a chipset, and an ATX power supply. The control circuit further comprises a MIDI receiver, a comparator, a register, and a power supply controller. Before the computer system enters an off or a standby state, a default value is preset and stored to the register. After the computer enters the off or standby state, a MIDI_IN signal from the peripheral device to the MIDI receiver after the computer enters the off or the standby state. A value of the MIDI_IN signal is compared to the default value from the register by the comparator. An enable signal is input to the power supply controller from the comparator when the value of the MIDI_IN signal is equal to the default value. The computer system is woken up or turned on via the ATX power supply and the chipset controlled by the power supply controller according to the enable signal.
More specifically, when the computer system is in a standby state, according to the enable signal, a PANEL_SW_OUT signal is sent to the chipset to wake up the computer. While the computer system is in an off state, according to the enable signal, a PS_ON signal and a PANEL_SW_OUT are sent to the ATX power supply and the chipset, respectively. The ATX power supply and the chipset are thus driven to enable the computer system to operate under a normal condition. In addition, the power supply controller may also receive a PANEL_SW_IN signal, and output the PANEL_SW_OUT signal to the chipset to wake up the computer.
It is to be understood that both
Huang Jiawei
J.C Patents
Thai Xuan M.
Winbond Electronics Corp.
LandOfFree
Control circuit and method to wake up or turn on computer... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Control circuit and method to wake up or turn on computer..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Control circuit and method to wake up or turn on computer... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2503425