JPH02141815A - Personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a personal computer from being left in the power-on state for a long time to efficiently use a machine by automatically turning off the power source of the personal computer at the time when a certain time elapses after disappearance of command input. CONSTITUTION:When a user turns on the power source, turning-on of the power source is transmitted from a central processing unit 1 through an interface 31 and a time management part 3 checks whether all of various peripheral device environments such as a disk and a printer incorporated in the personal computer are released or not, and the time management part 3 enters into the command accepting state when all of them are not released. When all of them are released, the time preliminarily set to a timer 32 is checked. The timer is counted down when having a time left. The command accepting state is set again, and the power source of the personal computer is turned off by the central processing unit 1 when the timer has not a time left.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a personal computer, and particularly to a personal computer whose power is automatically turned off after a certain period of time has passed after the end of use.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, personal computers are not automatically turned off unless the power is manually turned off.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional personal computers mentioned above, if you forget to turn off the power after finishing work, the power will be left on for a long time until you realize it, resulting in unnecessary electricity consumption or if you forget to turn it off when multiple people are using it. If this happens, it is difficult to tell whether the device is in use or not, which has the disadvantage of reducing usage efficiency.

[Means to solve the problem]

A personal computer of the present invention includes a timer setting means for setting a predetermined time in a timer when all peripheral devices connected to the personal computer are in a disbanded state; a timer reset means for resetting the timer when at least one of the timers becomes operational; a timer subtraction means for obtaining a time difference from time information from a calendar clock and subtracting the time set in the timer; and output means for instructing the central processing unit to turn off the power when the remaining time runs out.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, in which a personal computer includes a central processing unit 1, a calendar clock 2, and a time management section 3. 2 interface 31 and timer 3
2.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the time management section 3 in FIG. 1. The operation of turning off the power of the personal computer of the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIG. The management unit 3 checks whether the personal computer's built-in floppy disk, external floppy disk, and various peripheral devices such as printers are all released (step ①). As a result, if it has not been released, it enters the command acceptance state (step ■). Next, it checks to see if there is a command input (step ■), and if there is no command input, it immediately returns to step ■, and inputs the command. If so, process this command and return to step ■ (step ■).

Also, if all the various peripheral device environments are released in step ■, set the time specified in advance to the timer 32 (step ■), check the various peripheral device environments in the same way as step ■ (step ■), and release all of them. If so, check the remaining time of the timer 32 (step ■). Here, if there is time remaining, the timer is subtracted (step ■). This timer subtraction is performed by receiving and holding time information from the calendar clock 2, and when the time information sent from the calendar clock 2 is different from the held value, the timer 32 calculates the difference. This is done by subtracting the difference from the remaining time. At this time, new time information is held again. Next, it enters the state of accepting commands again (step ■
) and check if there is a command input (step [phase])
, if there is no command, return to step ■. If a command is input in this step [phase], the process returns to step ■. Also, if there is any peripheral device etc. that has not been released in step (2), the previously set time of the timer 32 is reset (step (2)) and the process returns to step (2). Furthermore, if there is no time left on the timer in step (2), the central processing unit 1 is caused to turn off the power of the personal computer via the interface 31.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention enables the central processing unit to turn off the power of the personal computer when a certain period of time has passed since the input/output device is released from the time management unit and no commands are input. By accessing the computer and automatically turning off the power of the personal computer, it is no longer necessary to leave the power on for long periods of time, making it possible to use the machine more efficiently.

Further, since wasteful electricity consumption in the power-on state can be reduced, there is an effect that economy can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the control operation of the time management section of FIG. 1. 1...Central processing unit, 2...Calendar clock, 3...
・Time management section, 31...Interface, 32...
timer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A personal computer having a built-in calendar clock, comprising: timer setting means for setting a predetermined time in a timer when all peripheral devices connected to the personal computer are in a disbanded state; and at least one of the peripheral devices.
a timer reset means for resetting the timer when the stand is in operation, a timer subtraction means for obtaining a time difference from time information from a calendar clock and subtracting the time set in the timer, and a timer subtraction means for subtracting the time set in the timer; 1. A personal computer comprising: output means for instructing a central processing unit to turn off the power when the computer runs out.