Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Computer power control – Power conservation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-15
2001-08-14
Dharia, Rupal (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Computer power control
Power conservation
C713S300000, C713S310000, C713S320000, C713S321000, C713S322000, C713S323000, C713S330000, C713S340000, C710S260000, C710S267000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275949
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a power controller for peripheral devices in a computer system utilizing a software switch.
In prior art, various mechanical switches have been used for computer peripheral devices such as monitors. The mechanical switch is disadvantageous in consumption of parts caused by frequent use and in operational and mcchanical deficiencies, whereby the mechanical switch may fail. If the mechanical switch fails, the computer peripheral device such as monitor becomes inoperable.
As the main switch, a software switch has been proposed. The software switch detects whether or not the switch is pushed down instantly. It is therefore sufficient that the switch is instantly pushed down for allowing the software switch to detect an instant contact. This is advantageous in avoidance of the failure of the switch.
When the software switch is used as the main switch for the monitor, it is necessary to do power ON of a main power switch for the software switch. In a software switch, power is always supplied through a power cable to a CPU as a part of the software switch, so that the CPU is always in operable state. The power supplies to the other parts than the software switch are under the control of the CPU.
This software switch in use of the main power switch for the monitor is incapable of doing what the mechanical switches can do. The mechanical switch allows that the power cable of the monitor is plugged into a socket of the computer so that the main switch of the monitor is left in an ON state, whereby switching ON the main power switch of the computer causes an automatic switching ON of the monitor. By contrast to the mechanical switch, the software switch in use for the main power switch for the monitor subjects the power supply to the other parts of the software switch to strict control of the CPU, for which reason even if the power cable of the monitor is plugged into a socket of the computer, then there is the problem that the ON/OFF operation of the monitor power supply is associated with ON/OFF operation of the computer.
Various peripheral devices are connected to the advanced computer system and the same number of the switches as the peripheral devices are required. It is of course convenient for users that a single switch is effective for power ON to all of the peripheral devices.
In the above circumstances, it bad been required to develop a power controller for a software switch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel power controller for a software switch free from the above problems.
In accordance with the present invention, software is executed after an activation of the CPU in order to judge whether an external power supply commence as a first eternal factor or an operation of a software switch in the external power supply as a second external factor is inputted as a trigger, whereby the software selects any one of different power ON operations, so as to start a computer system in the same state as a previously ended state of the system. When it is not necessary to supply the power to the peripheral devices such as the monitor, it is also discontinued to supply the power to the CPU as a part of the software switch, whereby a power consumption is reduced.
The previously ended states of the individual software switches are stored in EEPROM, so that the first or second external factor is inputted thereby allowing a power supply circuit to supply a power of +5V for a predetermined time period from an activation of the CPU to processing ON/OFF control signals. Immediately after activation of the CPU, the ON/OFF control signal becomes ON so that the power supply circuit always continues to supply the power to the CPU. The CPU refers to data about the previously ended state stored in EEPROM so that the CPU performs the power control based upon the previously ended state data.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following descriptions.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5213107 (1993-05-01), Fujii
patent: 5594426 (1997-01-01), Ushijima et al.
patent: 5864336 (1999-01-01), Yano
patent: 62-13609 (1989-01-01), None
Dharia Rupal
NEC Corporation
Young & Thompson
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