JPH09101845A - Information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption without using unnecessary an external device by devising a method for supplying power to an information processor. SOLUTION: A power supply peripheral part for the information processor is constituted of a main switch 34, a switch 31 controlled by an extended card 35 and included in a power supply part, a service plug socket 38 having a power supply switch function to be connected to an external power supply through a switch 32, and an internal power supply 36 for supplying power to the inside of a body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some information processing apparatuses such as personal computers are equipped with an outlet (hereinafter referred to as a service outlet) capable of supplying power to other external equipment to the information processing apparatus. This external device has
There are a display device, an external storage device, a printing device, and the like. In this information processing apparatus, when the power of the information processing apparatus is turned on, the power is also supplied to the external device connected to the service outlet of the information processing apparatus in conjunction with the operation thereof.

[0003]

In the above information processing apparatus, when the information processing apparatus is powered on in any case, the external equipment is also powered on at the same time.

At present, the following methods can be considered for using the information processing apparatus. That is, there are a method of directly using the information processing device (hereinafter referred to as direct use) and a method of operating the information processing device from a remote location (hereinafter referred to as indirect use). The former is a generally used method, in which the power is turned on by operating the main switch of the power supply attached to the information processing apparatus. The latter sends a start signal from a remote place via a communication line, etc.
When it receives the signal, it turns on the power. In either case, the external device that supplies power from the service outlet of the information processing device operates.

External devices often include a display device. This display device consumes a lot of power. In direct use,
Since the display device is required to operate the information processing device, simultaneous activation of the display devices is convenient. However, in the indirect use, since the information processing device is operated by another terminal, the display device is not necessary as long as the information processing device is operating.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of reducing power consumption by turning off unnecessary external equipment depending on the usage of the information processing apparatus.

[0007]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention has at least one service outlet for supplying power to an external apparatus such as a display device to the information processing apparatus, and also as a method of powering on the information processing apparatus. In addition to the main switch attached to the information processing device itself, it is an information processing device that has a function that can be turned on by remote control, and a switch function (hereinafter, This power control function is called a power switch function).

According to the power-on method of the information processing device, the power supply of an external device such as a display device connected to the service outlet can be controlled.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a rear view of the information processing apparatus. FIG.
Then, the main body 1 includes an expansion slot 2, an expansion slot 3, an expansion slot 4, an expansion slot 5, a service outlet 6,
It has a service outlet 7 and a power outlet 8. There can be any number of expansion slots and any number of service outlets. However, when the main body 1 has a plurality of service outlets, at least one service outlet must have a power switch function. Other service outlets may be those that can supply power in conjunction with the power supply of the main unit.

The main body 1 also includes a keyboard connector 1
0, mouse connector 11, serial port 12, serial port 13, printer connector 14, display connector 15 and the like. The types of these connectors are examples, and a plurality of connection connectors can be equipped in addition to this.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a system of the information processing device. In FIG. 2, the display device 20 is connected to the main body 1 by a connection cable 25. The power cable 24 of the display device 20 is connected to the service outlet of the main body 1. This service outlet has a power switch function. The LAN card 21 is inserted into the expansion slot of the main body 1, and the external communication network 23 and the LAN cable 22 are inserted.
Connected with. Main switch 26 for power supply of main body 1
Is provided on the side surface of the main body. In this example, it is provided on the back surface of the main body. External power outlet 28
And a power cable 27. External terminal 29
Controls the service outlet of the main body 1 via the communication network 23.

Other external devices (keyboard, external storage device, printing device, etc.) connected to the main body 1 are omitted in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the switch portion of the power supply circuit inside the main body. In FIG. 3, the power supply unit 30 has a switch 31 that controls an input from the external power supply 33.

The switch 31 is controlled by a main switch 34 and an expansion card 35 such as a modem. The terminal 29 sends a start signal and a connection signal to the expansion card 35 via the communication network 23.
Send to If the main switch 34 is turned on, the control line 40
Also turns on, and if the main switch 34 turns off, the control line 40 also turns off. Further, when the activation signal from the terminal 29 is turned on, the control line 41 is also turned on, and when the activation signal is turned off, the control line 41 is also turned off. If either the control line 40 or the control line 41 is on, the switch 31 is turned on, and if both the control line 40 and the control line 41 are off,
The switch 31 is turned off.

The power supply unit 30, the internal power supply 36, and the service outlet 37 are connected by a control line 44. The power supply unit 30 and the service outlet 38 are connected by the control line 44 and the switch 32.

Internal power supply 36 and service outlet 37
Are controlled only by the switch 31. That is, when the switch 31 is on, the internal power supply 36 and the service outlet 3
7 is turned on, and when the switch 31 is turned off, the internal power supply 3
6 and the service outlet 37 are turned off. The service outlet 38 has a power switch function that is controlled by both the switch 31 and the switch 32.

The switch 32 is controlled by the main switch 34 and an expansion card 35 such as a modem. Main switch 3
When 4 is turned on, the control line 42 is also turned on, and when the main switch 34 is turned off, the control line 42 is also turned off. If the connection signal from the terminal 29 is turned on, the control line 43
Also turns on, and if the connection signal turns off, the control line 43 also turns off. The connection signal is turned on or off depending on the setting value held by the terminal 29. This set value can be selected by the terminal user. When either the control line 42 or the control line 43 is on, the switch 32 is turned on, and when both the control line 42 and the control line 43 are off, the switch 32 is turned off.

The service outlet 38 has a switch 31.
And the switch 32. When the power is turned on, when both the switch 31 and the switch 32 are off, that is, when the main switch 34 is off and the activation signal from the expansion card 35 is on and the connection signal is off, it is off. In this way, the service outlet 38 can be freely turned on / off by the user of the terminal.

It is assumed that one or more service outlets are provided. If there is one service outlet, it is equipped with a power switch function, and if there are multiple service outlets, at least one has a power switch function. Equip.

[0021]

According to the present invention, power consumption can be reduced by not using an unnecessary external device according to the power-on method of the information processing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view of an information processing device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an information processing device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a power supply circuit unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

23 ... communication network, 29 ... external terminal, 30 ... power supply unit, 31 ...
Power switch, 32 ... Switch, 34 ... Main switch, 35: Expansion card.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An outlet for supplying power to an external device of a display device to the information processing device, a main switch attached to the information processing device itself as a method of powering on the information processing device, and powering on by remote control. An information processing apparatus having a means capable of providing the information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus has an automatic changeover switch for controlling the power supply of the outlet when the power is turned on.