JPH04629A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute the electronic apparatus so that a user can continue the same work without executing again the same application processing from an initial state by stopping the control of a main control means in an attaching/ detaching period of an external device, and on the other hand, holding the same output state through before and after the attaching/detaching period of the external device as for an output means. CONSTITUTION:A cover 4a is opened only in an attaching/detaching period of an external device 2, therefore, in a period in which an output signal 21 of a detecting switch 3 is logic '0', a user attaches and detaches the external device 2. A microcomputer 11 sleeps by an interruption caused by a signal 22 in the course of execution of various applications, and also, returns to the application which is being executed. That is, it becomes a sleep state only in a period in which the user attaches and detaches the external device 2, and after the sleep period is finished, the interrupted application is continued from the interrupted part. In such a way, the operation of the power source and the reset processing are not required, and the continuance of the application is not obstructed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to electronic equipment, particularly main control means for performing predetermined data processing, and means for outputting data to a user in a predetermined manner according to the data processing state. This invention relates to an electronic device having a removable external device.

[Prior Art] Traditionally, memory cartridges and ICs have been used in electronic devices such as word processors and personal computers.
A structure using a removable external device such as a card is known.

Conventionally, when attaching or removing these external devices, it was necessary to turn off the power to the main unit or reset the control circuit of the main unit using an external switch, etc., as these devices are often directly connected to the system bus of the main unit. It was common for external devices to be attached and removed after taking measures such as fixing them in place.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional method described above, after the external device is attached or detached, the processing of the main body is restarted from the reset state, so the control is initialized and the displayed contents are erased. had problems such as having to be executed from the initial state. In particular, with respect to resuming execution of application software, there is a problem in that it is troublesome and time-consuming to shift from an initial state to a desired execution state with software whose display and operation methods have become more complicated in recent years.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and improve power supply operation and
To provide an electronic device that does not require reset processing, allows external circuits to be easily attached and detached even during execution of an application, and does not interrupt the continuation of the application.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a main control means for performing predetermined data processing, and a data output to the user in a predetermined method according to the data processing state. In an electronic device that has a means for performing the process and a removable external device,
a means for detecting the attachment/detachment state of the external device, and a means for stopping the operation of the main control means during the attachment/detachment period of the external device according to the output of the detection means; We adopted a configuration that allows the device to remain in the same state before and after the attachment/detachment period.

[Function] According to the above configuration, the control of the main control means is stopped during the attachment/detachment period of the external device, while the same output state of the output device is maintained before and after the attachment/detachment period of the external device.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of an electronic device adopting the present invention. 1st
In the figure, the symbol l indicates an electronic device such as a word processor or a personal computer, and a memory cartridge or
It has a slot 4 for attaching and detaching an external device 2 such as an IC card.

The external device 2 has built-in storage elements such as ROM and RAM, control elements such as a microprocessor, peripheral circuits, and the like, and is used by being connected to a control circuit in the device main body 1, which will be described later.

A detection switch 3 for detecting the attachment state of the external device 2 is provided in the slot 4 of the device main body l. In this embodiment, the detection switch 3 is capable of detecting the attachment/detachment timing of the external device 2, and for this purpose, in FIG. magnetic sensor)
It is composed of such things as

Note that the external device 2 is completely accommodated in the slot 4 when attached, and the lid 4a is closed in this state. That is, t
It is assumed that ii4a is open only during the attachment/detachment period of the external device 2.

Furthermore, when connecting the external device 2, the connector mechanism is configured such that the GND potential pin of the connector (not shown) contacts first, and then the signal pin is connected.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the control system of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, numeral 11 is a microcomputer,
The operation of the entire device is controlled according to the reference clock generated by the clock generation circuit 13. Further, a known reset circuit 12 is connected to the microcomputer 11, which initializes the entire device in response to operation of a reset key or the like.

The microcomputer 11 performs predetermined information processing or data input/output to/from the external device 2, peripheral devices, or user by controlling the components of the device via the peripheral circuit 14. The peripheral circuit 14 includes input/output ports and other I/O ports.
Consists of 10 circuits.

Here, an LCD is used as a user interface means.
A display panel 19 made of a computer or CRT is shown.

Display panel 19 is connected to peripheral circuit 14 via display control circuit 18 .

In this embodiment, the display panel 19 is an LCD capable of displaying characters of about 20 digits, and the characters are displayed under the control of a display control circuit 18 having a character generator, text RAM, and the like.

When predetermined parameters and control bits are set by the microcomputer 11, the display control circuit 18 performs control to continuously display preset character data on the display panel 19.

In addition, the microcomputer 11 includes ROM, RAM,
A memory circuit 15 consisting of memory elements such as the like is connected.

Power is supplied to these members by a power supply circuit 20 consisting of a battery, a stabilized power supply, or the like. Power supply circuit 20
shall output 5V output for logic circuits or various DC voltages required for LCD panels and others.

The external device 2 is connected to the peripheral circuit 14 via a connection section 16 consisting of a connector and necessary elements such as a logic level conversion circuit bus driver.

As described above, attachment/detachment of the external device 2 is detected by the detection switch 3. The output signal of the detection switch 3 is connected to the signal line 21
The signal is input to a control circuit 17 consisting of a waveform shaping circuit, a delay circuit, etc., and a hardware interrupt to the microcomputer 11 is controlled via the control circuit 17 according to the output state of the detection switch 3.

Regarding this hardware interrupt, the microcomputer 11 can interrupt at both positive edge and negative edge, and also has an instruction set including a software instruction for transitioning to the sleep state, and in response to the interrupt. The model is assumed to be able to shift to the sleeve state and return to the original control from the sleeve state in response to an interruption. In this sleeve instruction, it is assumed that the address/data bus etc. are controlled to a high impedance state6. 22 timing is shown.

As shown in the figure, the detection switch 3 outputs a logic 0 when the lid 4a is open and a logic 0 when the lid 4a is closed. Control circuit 17
removes chattering at the edge of the detection switch 3 and outputs a signal such as 22.

As mentioned above, since the lid 4a is opened only during the period when the external device 2 is attached or detached, the period when the output signal 21 of the detection switch 3 is logic 0 can be considered as the period when the user is attaching or detaching the external device 2. .

In addition to eliminating chattering in the signal 21, the control circuit 17 converts changes in the signal 21 into a signal 22 with a delay time sufficient for the signal line of the external bag RA2 to be completely connected to the connection part 16 by the connector mechanism described above. shall be reflected in the

The microcomputer 11 shifts to the sleeve state in response to a change in the signal 22 output from the control circuit 17 from logic 1 to 0, and returns from the sleeve state to the normal control state in response to a change in logic 0 to 1. Thus, an interrupt program using the signal 22 is created and stored in the memory circuit 15.

The microcomputer 11 goes to sleep due to an interrupt caused by the above-mentioned signal 22 while executing various applications (any type), and returns to the application being executed. In other words, the sleeve state is maintained only during the period when the user attaches and detaches the external device 2, and after the end of the sleeve period, the interrupted application is continued from the point where it was interrupted.

In this way, according to this embodiment, all running applications are not returned to their initial state by turning off the power or resetting, unlike in the past (the user can switch the external device 2 to the application as needed). It is possible to exchange during execution and continue to use the same application before and after the exchange.

In addition, in the sleeve period (periods A and B in Figure 3),
According to the control bits set by the microcomputer 11, the display control circuit 18 causes the display panel 19 to continue displaying. Therefore, the display of the application continues even while the external device 2 is being replaced, so it is possible to perform tasks such as checking the application display even while the external device 2 is being replaced, thereby improving operational efficiency.

Different embodiments are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Figure 4 shows the configuration of the control system corresponding to Figure 2.
It is assumed that the detection switch 3 in the figure is provided in the slot 4 for mounting the external device 2, as in FIG.

The difference in the configuration of FIG. 4 from that of FIG. 2 is that the control circuit 1
The point that the output signal 22 of 7 does not interrupt the microcomputer 1], but resets the microcomputer 11 by the reset circuit 12%, and the connection part 16
The difference is that a latch circuit 16a is provided therein to store the opening/closing timing of M4a indicated by the output of the control circuit I7. The other configurations are the same as in FIG. 2.

The output signal 44 of the latch circuit 16a is input to the microcomputer 11 and
It can be reset by a control signal 43.

Further, in this embodiment, the microcomputer 11 does not need to have a sleeve command, and it is sufficient if the reset circuit I2 is configured to reset the microcomputer 11 at the negative edge of the signal 22.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the circuit of FIG. 4.

The operation of signals 21 and 22 in FIG. 5 is the same as in FIG.

The signal 22 becomes logic 0 during the open period of 1 and 1f4a, and the microcomputer 11 is reset by the negative edge of this signal 22.

The reset state of the microcomputer 11 is canceled by the reset circuit 12 when the lid 4a is closed again and the signal 22 becomes logic 1.

Immediately after the microcomputer 11 is reset, the signal 44
That is, the state of the output signal of the latch circuit 16a in the connection part 16 is determined, and if it is logic 0, the latch circuit 1
6a and is programmed to continue the interrupted application. At this time, the displays on the display control circuit 18 and display panel 19 are not reset. This initialization program is stored in the storage circuit 15.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the external device 2 is attached or detached, the microcomputer 11 is reset, and then the application being executed can be continued by referring to the output of the latch circuit 16a.

The control of the display panel 19 by the display control circuit 18 is similar, and the display on the display panel 19 continues even if the lid 4a is opened or closed.

The configurations shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 have the advantage that they can be implemented even when the microcomputer 11 does not have instructions for the sleeve.

The above configuration can be applied to various electronic devices such as word processors and personal computers.

In addition, although the display means was considered above as an output means to a user, it goes without saying that the same structure can be implemented even if the output means is other output means.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, main control means for performing predetermined data processing, means for outputting data to the user in a predetermined manner according to the data processing state,
In an electronic device having a removable external device, means for detecting the attachment/detachment state of the external device, and stopping the operation of the main control means during the attachment/detachment period of the external device according to the output of the detection means; Since the configuration is such that the output state of the data output means continues in the same state before and after the attachment/detachment period of the external device, the control of the main control means is stopped during the attachment/detachment period of the external device;
Regarding the output means, the same output state is maintained before and after the external device is attached/detached, and there is an excellent effect that the user can continue the same work without having to re-execute the same application processing from the initial state.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the part where an external device is attached to an electronic device adopting the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the control system of the device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows the operation of the circuit shown in Fig. 2. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a different control system, and FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation of the circuit in FIG. 4. l--Device body 2--External device 3--Detection switch 4--Slot 11-Microcomputer 12--Reset circuit 13--Clock generation circuit 4-Peripheral circuit 5--Memory circuit 16 ...-Connection part 6a--Flip-flop 7--Control circuit 18--Display control circuit 9--
Display panel 20 - - Power supply circuit patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd. - 2 agents Patent attorney Taku Kato

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An electronic device having a main control means for performing predetermined data processing, a means for outputting data in a predetermined manner to a user according to a data processing state, and a detachable external device, means for detecting the attachment/detachment state of the external device; and according to the output of the detection means, the operation of the main control means is stopped during the attachment/detachment period of the external device, and the output state of the data output means is changed to An electronic device characterized by being maintained in the same state before and after a period of attachment and detachment.