JPH11167439A - Information processing device having multiple power supply selection states - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an information processing device in which peripheral devices such as a central processing unit, a main storage device, a display device, and an input device are integrated, in consideration of power saving and low cost. The purpose is to do. A central processing unit (5), a main storage device (6), a modem (7), a display device (8), and a keyboard (9) are provided with internal power switches (2, 3, 4) for turning on / off the power for each group. The connection state of these internal power switches is selected by the power switch control unit 1. As a result, the state of the power switch according to the application can be selected. For example, when transmitting and receiving information to and from the outside, the power of only the internal power switches 2 and 3 is turned on and the internal power switch 3 is turned off. Unnecessary functions such as display and keyboard input can be turned off.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention integrates a main body device such as a central processing unit and a main storage device with peripheral devices such as a display device and an input device. The present invention relates to an information processing device that can be turned on / off.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an information processing apparatus in which a central processing unit such as a personal computer and a word processor, a main storage device, and peripheral devices such as a display device and an input device are integrated, only one power switch is provided. Power ON
And two types of states, power-off and power-off.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a conventional information processing apparatus. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a power supply of the information processing apparatus which is turned ON /
A power switch for turning off, 22 a central processing unit for controlling the information processing device, 23 a main storage device for storing data,
Reference numeral 24 denotes a modem for transmitting and receiving information such as facsimile and electronic mail through a telephone line; 25, a display device for displaying characters and images; and 26, a keyboard for inputting character data and the like.

In the conventional information processing apparatus configured as described above, the central processing unit 22, the main storage unit 23, and the modem 2 are turned on and off by turning on / off the power switch 21.
4. All power supplies such as keyboard 26 are ON / OFF at the same time
Is done.

[0005]

Generally, an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a word processor having a communication function is always used for automatic reception of external information such as facsimile and electronic mail. It is required to keep the power on.

[0006] However, if this demand is satisfied, the power of all the devices integrated with the information processing device is always turned on, so that the power consumption increases.

In some portable information processing devices having a display unit that can be opened and closed, a switch is provided in conjunction with the operation of closing the display unit so that only the power of the display unit can be turned off. If an open / close operation is performed, a failure is likely to occur.

The present invention provides an information processing apparatus in which peripheral devices such as a central processing unit, a main storage device, a display device, and an input device are integrated, in order to satisfy the above-mentioned demands. ON only for some devices necessary for
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing device that considers power saving and low cost by realizing a multi-stage power supply selection state in which power is turned off and unnecessary devices are turned off.

[0009]

In order to solve this problem, the present invention sets the power switch to a state in which all power supplies are turned off.
In addition to N and all power OFF, only the power of devices necessary for a specific function such as a communication function and a music playback function is O.
By providing various types of selection states such as setting the state to the N state and turning off the power of unnecessary devices to the OFF state, the power switch state according to the function can be selected.

Thus, in addition to the conventional two states of all power ON and all power OFF, a state in which only a minimum amount of power is consumed for a specific function, that is, some devices depending on the function An information processing apparatus that can select the third state in which the power is always kept ON only is obtained.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is directed to an information processing apparatus in which a main device such as a central processing unit and a main storage device and peripheral devices such as a display device and an input device are integrated. , Devices necessary for executing a specific function, such as a communication function and a music reproduction function, are divided into groups and provided for each of the groups, and the power of each group is turned on / off.
A plurality of internal power switches to be turned on, and an internal power switch control unit for selecting a plurality of power on / off states in which all of the plurality of internal power switches are turned on and all off, and a part of the power is turned on. For example, in order to constantly receive external information such as facsimile and electronic mail, unnecessary power supplies such as display devices and input devices are turned off, and necessary central processing units, A selection state is provided in which a power switch, such as a main storage device and a modem, is turned on so that external information can be received by a power switch.
By selecting this, an operation of waiting for reception of information from the outside can be realized with low power consumption and low cost.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus having the multi-stage power supply selection state according to the first aspect, a light sensing sensor is provided in a part of the apparatus main body, and the light sensing sensor is provided. Depending on the intensity of the light to be sensed, the power of only some of the devices necessary to execute a specific function may be changed from the power-on state to the power-on state of all the apparatuses, or from the power-on state of all the apparatuses. A power switch that automatically transitions to a state where only the power of the device is ON is provided, for example, when the ambient light changes due to turning off the light in the room or closing the display unit. Sense, F
Power supplies for the central processing unit, main storage device, and modem required for automatic reception of external information such as AX and e-mail
There is an effect that the power of unnecessary display devices and input devices is automatically switched to the OFF state in the N state.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing apparatus having a multi-stage power supply selection state according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an internal power switch control unit that manages a connection state of the internal power switch, and reference numerals 2, 3, and 4 denote internal power switches that are provided in each of the devices forming the information processing device as a group. Power on / off for each group. 5 is a central processing unit that controls the information processing device, 6 is a main storage device that stores data, and 7 is F
A modem for transmitting and receiving information to and from the outside through a telephone line by AX or e-mail, a display device 8 for displaying characters and images, and a keyboard 9 for inputting character data and the like. The internal power switch 2 switches the power ON / OFF of the central processing unit 5 and the main storage device 6 as a group, the internal power switch 3 switches the power ON / OFF of the modem 7, and the internal power switch 4 controls the display device 8 and the keyboard. 9
Are turned on / off as a group.

In FIG. 1, an internal power switch control unit 1
When all switches of the internal power switch 2, the internal power switch 3, and the internal power switch 4 are turned off by the selection of, all functions of the information processing apparatus are stopped. This is equivalent to the OFF state of the power switch 21 of the conventional information processing apparatus shown in FIG.

Next, when the external information receivable state is selected by the selection of the internal power switch control unit 1,
A central processing unit 5, an internal power switch 2 for switching power on / off of a main storage device 6, and a modem power on / off
The internal power switch 3 for switching the FF is turned on, and the internal power switch 4 for switching the power of the display device 8 and the keyboard 9 on and off remains off. As a result, in the information processing apparatus, the state of waiting for reception of external information can be maintained at all times, and the amount of power consumed for the display device 8 and the keyboard 9 unnecessary for receiving external information can be reduced. .

Further, only normal data input work is performed,
When there is no need to transmit / receive information to / from the outside, the internal power switch control unit 1 selects the external information reception disabled state. In this case, the internal power switch 2 for turning on / off the power of the central processing unit 5 and the main storage device 6
And the internal power switch 4 for switching the power of the display device 8 and the keyboard 9 on and off are turned on, and the internal power switch 3 for switching the power of the modem on and off is turned on.
Remains in the OFF state. As a result, the amount of power consumed for the modem 7 required for receiving external information can be reduced.

When all of the internal power switches 2, 3, and 4 are turned on by selection of the internal power switch control section 1, all functions of the information processing apparatus become operable. This is equivalent to the ON state of the power switch 21 of the conventional information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, which is a normal use state of the information processing apparatus.

In the above description, the external information receivable state in the information processing device including the central processing unit, the main storage device, the modem, the display device, and the keyboard has been described. Similarly, the information processing apparatus including an external storage device such as a device, another input / output device, etc. may be individually powered on / off as necessary.
By performing F, it is possible to apply various functions such as selection of a state where only the printing function and only the CD music reproducing function are possible.

(Embodiment 2) In FIG. 1, a light sensing sensor 10 is installed in a part of the information processing apparatus main body, and for example, the display unit is opened and closed according to the intensity of light sensed by the light sensing sensor 10. When the intensity of light received by the information processing device changes, such as when the display unit of the portable information processing device is closed or when the indoor lighting is turned off, the internal power switch control unit 1 is turned on. If it is selected that only external information reception is possible, the internal power switch 2 for turning on / off the power of the central processing unit 5 and the main storage device 6
Then, the internal power switch 3 for switching the power of the display device 8 and the keyboard 9 to the OFF state while the internal power switch 3 for switching the power ON / OFF of the modem remains ON. Then, when the display unit is opened or the indoor lighting is turned on, the display unit 8 and the internal power switch 4 of the keyboard 9 are turned on again. As a result, all the powers are turned on, and only some of the devices are turned on.
It is possible to automatically transition to the state of
The trouble of changing the selection state of the internal power switch during use is reduced.

It is needless to say that the internal power switch control section 1 may be a hardware switch such as a slide switch having a plurality of contacts or may be realized by software.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus in which a peripheral device such as a central processing unit, a main storage device, a display device and an input device is integrated, the selection state of a power switch is By providing multiple stages, such as turning on all power supplies, turning on only some of the devices required for specific functions, and turning off all power supplies, it is possible to select several power switch states and execute specific functions. An advantageous effect of eliminating unnecessary power consumption at the time can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information processing apparatus having a multi-stage power supply selection state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional information processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Internal power switch control part 2, 3, 4 Internal power switch 5 Central processing unit 6 Main storage device 7 Modem 8 Display device 9 Keyboard 10 Light sensing sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus in which a main body device such as a central processing unit and a main storage device and peripheral devices such as a display device and an input device are integrated with each other, a specific function such as a communication function and a music reproducing function is provided. Devices necessary for execution are grouped, and provided for each of the groups.
A plurality of N / OFF internal power switches; and a plurality of power ON / OFF switches in which all of the plurality of internal power switches are ON and all OFF, and only a part of them is ON.
An information processing apparatus having a multi-stage power supply selection state, comprising: an internal power switch control unit for selecting a state. 2. A light sensing sensor is provided in a part of the apparatus main body,
Depending on the intensity of the light sensed by the light sensing sensor, the power of only some of the devices required to execute a specific function is turned on, the power of all the devices is turned on, or the power of all the devices is turned on. Only the power of some devices is turned on from the ON state
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power switch that automatically transitions to the state of (1).