JPH02201492A - Personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a personal computer having a display panel equipped with an auxiliary light such as a backlight, and particularly to a personal computer having a display panel equipped with an auxiliary light such as a backlight. The present invention relates to a personal computer with a function to control the computer.

(Prior Art) A personal computer having a conventional display panel with a backlight has a configuration in which lighting/extinguishing is controlled in accordance with the on/off operation of a power switch.

This type of configuration is fine for devices that rely on obtaining power for operating the device from an external commercial power source, but it is important to make the device smaller and lighter to make it easier to carry, and to use built-in battery power to specify the location. When the target is a small personal computer, such as a notebook size or a notebook size, which is designed to be easy to use without a computer, the following problems arise. That is, in the above configuration, the backlight is constantly driven to turn on during the period when the power switch is turned on.
Power consumption during normal use is large, and therefore, if you want to enable long-term use, you must use large, heavy, and high-capacity batteries, which is a major obstacle in making the device smaller and lighter. Become. Furthermore, even when the operation is temporarily interrupted during work, the backlight remains on, which wastes battery power.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) As mentioned above, in the conventional structure, the backlight is controlled to turn on/off according to the on/off operation of the power switch, which consumes a large amount of power and therefore cannot be used for a long time. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to use a large, heavy, and large-capacity battery, which is a major obstacle in making the device smaller and lighter.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a personal computer having a display panel with an auxiliary light such as a backlight, it is possible to significantly reduce the power consumption of the light, thereby making it possible to use a small and lightweight battery. An object of the present invention is to provide a personal computer whose main body can be made smaller and lighter.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means and Effects for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a laptop-type personal computer having a display panel with an auxiliary light. The device is equipped with a means for recognizing the amount of external light, and a means for driving the light to turn on when the amount of external light is less than a set amount of light, and automatically turns on the light when the usage environment is such that the displayed content can be sufficiently recognized from the amount of external light. It is configured to control the lights to turn off and reduce the power consumption required to drive the lights on, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption when batteries are used as the operating drive source, and by using small and lightweight batteries. The device body can be made smaller and lighter.

The present invention also provides a laptop-type personal computer having a display panel with an auxiliary light, which includes means for automatically controlling the lighting drive current of the light according to the amount of external light. This allows the display panel to be controlled in the best possible condition at all times, maintaining a stable and easy-to-operate display condition, reducing the power consumption required to drive the lights, and reducing the size and size of the display panel. In addition, by using a lightweight battery, the main body of the device can be made smaller and lighter.

Further, in the present invention, in a laptop/knob type personal computer having a display panel with an auxiliary light, there is provided an operating means for instructing key input, and a driving means for lighting the above-mentioned light along with the operating means. The backlight can be selectively turned on only when a key is operated, thereby eliminating wasteful power consumption due to driving the light on before operation.
Furthermore, in this case, by providing a means for controlling the light to turn off when the key operation interval is set to Δp1 and the key is not operated within the set time, the light can be selectively turned on only when the key is being operated. The power consumption required to drive the lights can be significantly reduced, and a compact and lightweight personal computer using a compact and lightweight battery can be realized.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a laptop type personal computer having a display panel with an auxiliary light. means for detecting a key operation state; a lighting flag that changes to a lighting instruction state after a predetermined unit time each time the key operation state is detected; and means for driving the light to turn on when the flag is in a lighting instruction state. As a result, the light can be turned on automatically only when a key is being operated, and the power consumption required to drive the light to turn on can be significantly reduced. A fully integrated personal computer can be realized.

(Example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the embodiment.

In the figure, l is a CPU that has an on/off control function for auxiliary lights such as backlights. (When the state detection switch 8 indicates the device usage state by rotating the device by a predetermined angle in the direction away from the device)
, receives an interrupt signal lRP generated at regular intervals from the timer module 4, and executes the timer routine shown in FIG.

2 is a keyboard (KB) installed at a fixed position on the main body of the device.
), and 3 is a keyboard controller (KBG) that controls key input of this keyboard 2.

4 is a timer module that generates an interrupt signal IRP to the CPU at fixed intervals.

5 is a display controller that controls the display drive of the display panel 6 under the control of the CPUI.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a display panel using a transmissive liquid crystal panel whose display drive is controlled under the control of the display controller 5, and is rotatably provided in the apparatus main body using the upper rear surface of the apparatus main body as a fulcrum. Reference numeral 7 denotes a light source section serving as an auxiliary light for the display panel 6.

8 is a usage status of a specific level (for example, "1" level) indicating the usage status of the device when the display panel 6 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the direction away from the keyboard 2 and the main body of the device is in a usable state! ! 3. This is a state detection switch that outputs a detection signal.

9 is a specific level (for example, “1
This is an illuminance sensor that outputs an illuminance detection signal of "level).

Reference numeral 10 denotes a human output interface for exchanging a lighting/extinguishing control signal of the light source section 7, a usage state detection signal of the state detection switch 8, an illuminance detection signal of the illuminance sensor 9, etc. with the CPUI. 5-BLIS is a system bus that interconnects each of the above components.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a timer routine executed by the CPUI, and shows the input/output interface 1.
When the signal of the state detection switch 8 read through 0 indicates the device usage status 7@ ("1"), the interrupt IRP is executed every time the timer module 4 generates an interrupt IRP at regular intervals.

The operation of an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

When the main body of the device is ready for use, the display panel 6
is rotated by a predetermined angle in a direction away from the keyboard 2,
The output of the state detection switch 8 is at a specific level ("1") indicating the usage state of the device.

In this state, when the interrupt signal IRP is generated from the timer module 4, the CPUI executes the timer routine shown in FIG. 3.

This timer routine first determines whether there is a key input (step 53 in FIG. 3).

If it is determined here that there is a key input, then from the illuminance detection signal of the illuminance sensor 9 read through the input/output interface 10, it is determined whether the illuminance of the external irradiation light on the display panel G is below the limit illuminance. It is determined whether or not (step S2 in FIG. 3).

When it is recognized that the illuminance of the external irradiation light on the display panel B is below the limit illuminance, a lighting control signal is sent to the illuminance sensor 9 to drive and control the lighting of the light source section 7 (step 53 in FIG. 3).

Furthermore, in order to measure the key input interval, a predetermined timer count value is set in the timer module 4, and then key input processing begins (steps S4 to S5 in FIG. 3).

In addition, when determining whether there is a key input or not (step S4 in FIG. 3), if it is determined that there is no key input, it is determined whether the timer count value is "0" or not (step S6 in FIG. 3). ), if not rOJ, set the timer value to r-IJ
(step S7 in FIG. 3), and exits from the timer routine.

Further, when determining the timer count value (step S6 in FIG. 3), if it is determined that the timer count value is "0", the light source section 7 is turned off (step S8 in FIG. 3).
) and exit the timer routine.

In this way, when the device is in use, a timer routine for controlling the light source section 7 is executed at regular intervals, and when the illuminance of the external irradiation light on the display panel 6 is lower than the set illuminance (the surroundings are (When it is dark and the display cannot be recognized sufficiently)
, controls the lighting drive of the light source section 7.

As a result, unnecessary power consumption of the light source section 7 can be eliminated without interfering with operation, and especially when battery-powered, the battery life can be extended, and the battery can be made smaller and lighter. , the entire device can be made more compact.

In addition, in the above timer routine, the process of determining the key input presence/absence state (step S4 in FIG. 3) is omitted, and the light source unit is 7 may be controlled on/off.

Furthermore, in the timer routine of the above embodiment, the light source section 7 is turned on and off based on the presence or absence of a key input, the state detection output of the state detection switch 8, and the illuminance detection output of the illuminance sensor 9.
However, the illuminance sensor 9 obtains a signal that changes continuously or stepwise according to the illuminance of the external irradiation light, using the presence or absence of a key input and the state detection output of the state detection switch 8 as judgment conditions. , the driving current of the light source section 7 may be controlled by the same signal, and the illuminance of the light source section 7 may be controlled in accordance with the illuminance of external irradiation light during the key operation.

Further, in the above embodiment, a transmissive liquid crystal panel is used as the display panel 6, and the light source section 7 is used as a backlight. 7 may be used.

Further, for the light source section 7, an appropriate light source such as EL, cold cathode tube, etc. may be used depending on each specification. Further, the state detection switch 8 may also be a photo sensor, for example, instead of a mechanical contact.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, in a laptop type personal computer having a display panel with an auxiliary light, the amount of external light irradiated onto the display panel can be reduced. By having a configuration comprising a recognition means and a means for driving the light to turn on when the amount of external light is less than the set amount of light, when the usage environment is such that the displayed content can be sufficiently recognized by the amount of external light,
The above lights can be controlled to turn off automatically to reduce the power consumption required to turn on the above lights, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption when batteries are used as the operating drive source, and using small and lightweight batteries. The main body of the device can be made smaller and lighter.

The present invention also provides a laptop-type personal computer having a display panel with an auxiliary light, which includes means for automatically controlling the lighting drive current of the light according to the amount of external light. With this configuration, the display panel can always be controlled in the best condition, maintaining a stable display with good operability, and the power consumption required to drive the above lights can be reduced, resulting in a compact and lightweight design. By using batteries, the main body of the device can be made smaller and lighter.

Further, in the present invention, in a laptop type personal computer having a display panel with an auxiliary light, an operating means for instructing key input;
By providing a means for driving the light to turn on in conjunction with the operation means, the light can be selectively turned on only when a key is operated, thereby eliminating wasteful power consumption due to driving the light to turn on before operation. In this case, the light can be selectively turned on only when the key is being operated by measuring the key operation interval and controlling the light to turn off when the key is not operated within a set time. As a result, the power consumption required to drive the lights can be significantly reduced, and a compact and lightweight personal computer using a compact and lightweight battery can be realized.

Further, according to the present invention, in a laptop type personal computer having a display panel with an auxiliary light, there is provided a means for detecting a key operation state, and a means for detecting a key operation state, and a means for detecting a key operation state, and a means for detecting a key operation state, The device is configured to include a lighting flag that indicates a lighting instruction state, and a means for driving the light to turn on when the flag is in a lighting instruction state, so that the light is automatically turned on only when a key is operated. It is possible to significantly reduce the power consumption required to drive the lights, and to realize a compact and lightweight personal computer using a compact and lightweight battery.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a timer routine in the embodiment. 1...CPU, 2...Keyboard (KB), 3.
・・Keyboard controller (KI3C), 4...
Timer module, 5...Display controller, 6...
- Display panel, 7... Light source unit, 8... Status detection switch, 9... Illuminance sensor, IO... Input/output interface (Ilo-IF), IRP... Interrupt signal. Applicant's Representative Patent Attorney Takehiko Suzue Timer Routine Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 2

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) In a laptop-type personal computer having a display panel with an auxiliary light, means for recognizing the amount of external light irradiated onto the display panel; and means for driving the light to turn on at certain times. (2) The personal computer according to claim (1), wherein the lighting drive current of the light is controlled according to the amount of external light. (3) A laptop-type personal computer having a display panel with an auxiliary light, comprising operating means for instructing key input, and means for driving the light to turn on in conjunction with the operating means. A personal computer characterized by: (4), having means for measuring key operation intervals;
4. A personal computer according to claim 3, wherein said light is controlled to be turned off when a key is not operated within a set time. (5) In a laptop type personal computer having a display panel with auxiliary lights. A means for detecting key operation status and each time the same is detected,
1. A personal computer comprising: a lighting flag that is turned on after a predetermined unit time; and means for driving the light to turn on when the flag is turned on.