CN101551766A - Device and method for displaying BIOS error detection code - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a device and a method for displaying BIOS error detection codes, comprising the following steps: a Basic Input Output System for generating error detection codes, wherein the error detection codes are transmitted through a Low Pin Count (LPC) interface; a conversion module for receiving the error detection code and converting the error detection code into a system management bus (SMBus) format; an output module for receiving and outputting the error detection code transmitted by the conversion module, wherein the output module is a system management bus (SMBus) interface. The device and the method provided by the invention do not need to occupy a plurality of pin counts like a Low Pin Count (LPC) interface in the prior art, thereby saving the configuration of space. In addition, the error detection code can be displayed without disassembling the shell of the computer system, so that the convenience in use is greatly improved.

Description

Device and method for displaying BIOS error detection code

technical field

The invention relates to a device and method for displaying error detection codes, in particular to a device and method for displaying BIOS error detection codes.

Background technique

When a device such as a computer system is started or reset (reset), the Basic Input Output System (Basic Input Output System, BIOS) will perform a power-on self-test (POST) on the hardware. Wherein, the power-on self-test is a test action performed by the computer system to test whether each part of the components is normal or whether a specific device is not installed properly before the operating system is loaded in order to be able to operate normally. After the power-on self-test is performed, if there is an abnormal situation in the computer system, a so-called error detection code (POST code) will be generated. And through the error detection code, you can know which part of the hardware has a problem, and then fix the abnormal problem point.

The early error detection code is transmitted to the PCI bus through the main chip of the system, and then decoded and displayed by the device connected to the PCI bus. Nowadays, most of the error detection codes are transmitted to the low pin count (Low Pin Count, LPC) interface bus through the main chip of the system, and then the error detection codes are received and displayed by an external detection device.

When the error detection code is transmitted through the low pin count interface, a connection port needs to be reserved on the motherboard of the computer system to provide the detection device connection and receive the error detection code. Since the low pin count interface has 7 signal lines, it must occupy the space of 7 pins. However, as technology advances day by day, for notebook computers, the demand for thinner and lighter makes the space in the notebook computer very precious. Therefore, the reserved connection port for the low pin count interface will occupy too much space on the motherboard.

Furthermore, traditionally, in order to connect the detection device to the connection port of the low pin count interface on the mainboard to receive and display the error detection code, the casing of the computer must be disassembled to complete the connection. In this way, it is very inconvenient to use and increases the difficulty of operation.

Therefore, the known technology proposes a method of using the USB port to transmit the error detection code. However, the USB interface must be initialized by the computer system before it can work normally, so the USB interface will not work properly before the computer system initializes the USB device. If there is an abnormality in the computer system at this time, the error detection code will not be transmitted.

Furthermore, the known technology also proposes a method of using LEDs on the notebook computer system to display the error detection code. The method is to use the built-in LEDs of the notebook computer, such as keyboard lights, power lights, hard disk lights, etc., and use LED combination display to express the corresponding error detection code. However, in this way, firstly, the user must first know the error detection code represented by the change of the LED light, so it is necessary to train the user in advance or make him check the corresponding table, which will increase the time cost.

Therefore, how to solve the problem of displaying the BIOS error detection code in the computer system is an urgent issue to be solved.

Contents of the invention

In view of this, the present invention proposes a device and method for displaying BIOS error detection codes. Through the device or method proposed by the present invention, unlike the low pin count (LPC) interface in the prior art, it is not necessary to occupy multiple pin counts, so that the configuration can save space. In addition, the error detection code can be displayed without dismantling the shell of the computer system, which greatly improves the convenience of use.

The present invention proposes a device for displaying BIOS error detection codes, which is applied to a computer system. The device for displaying BIOS error detection codes includes: a basic input output system (BIOS) for generating error detection codes, and the error detection codes are determined by Transmitted by the low pin count (LPC) interface; a conversion module receives the error detection code and converts the error detection code into a system management bus (SMBus) format; an output module is used to receive and output the error detection code transmitted by the conversion module Error detection code, and the output module is a system management bus (SMBus) interface.

The present invention also proposes a method for displaying a BIOS error detection code, comprising the steps of: generating an error detection code by the Basic Input Output System (BIOS); transmitting the error detection code through a low pin count (LPC) interface; converting the error detection code into System Management Bus (SMBus) format; an output module providing a System Management Bus (SMBus) interface for receiving and outputting error detection codes.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their effects are described below with accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1: The schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the device showing the BIOS error detection code

Fig. 2: The schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the device showing the BIOS error detection code

Figure 3A: A schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a device displaying BIOS error detection codes

Figure 3B: a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of a device for displaying BIOS error detection codes

Figure 4: Flowchart of the method for displaying BIOS error detection codes

And, the reference numerals in the above-mentioned accompanying drawings are explained as follows:

10: Basic Input Output System

20: Conversion module

30: Output module

32: Battery connection port

34: System management bus connection port

40: detection module

50: display module

Detailed ways

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a device for displaying BIOS error detection codes. The device for displaying BIOS error detection code proposed by the present invention is applied to a computer system and includes: a basic input and output system 10 , a conversion module 20 and an output module 30 .

The Basic Input Output System (BIOS) on the computer system will detect and initialize the hardware device, and output the error detection code (power-on self-test, POST Code) according to each stage of the detection program operation . Then the BIOS will send the error detection code to some system buses or interfaces according to the hardware equipment of the system where it is located.

Therefore, the basic input output system 10 (hereinafter referred to as BIOS) proposed by the present invention is used to generate error detection codes, and the error detection codes are provided by a low pin count (Low Pin Count, LPC) interface (hereinafter referred to as LPC interface) sent.

The error detection code generated by the BIOS is transmitted to the conversion module 20 through the LPC interface. When the conversion module 20 receives the error detection code, it will convert the error detection code from the original LPC format to the system management bus (SMBus) format (hereinafter referred to as the SMBus format). Wherein, the conversion module 20 may be a keyboard controller (Keyboard Controller, KBC) built in a general computer system. The keyboard controller has multiple functions, such as: controlling the keyboard, controlling the brightness of the screen, controlling the touch pad, etc., wherein the keyboard controller itself has the function of converting the LPC format into the SMBus format. Therefore, the present invention proposes that the keyboard controller can be used as the conversion module 20 to convert the error detection code from the LPC format to the SMBus format.

The output module 30 is used for receiving and outputting the error detection code transmitted by the converting module 20 . Since the conversion module 20 has converted the error detection code into the SMBus format, the interface form of the output module 30 belongs to the system management bus (SMBus) interface (hereinafter referred to as the SMBus interface).

Because, the SMBus interface only needs to reserve 2 to 3 pins (2 pins when the ground signal is not reserved; 3 pins when the ground signal is reserved), which is 7 pins reserved for the LPC interface. The root pin greatly saves the configuration space that the motherboard must reserve.

The above-mentioned output module 30 can be a battery connection port (port) of the notebook computer. Wherein, the battery connection port is originally built in the notebook computer, and belongs to the SMBus interface, and its original function is to transmit related signals such as battery power. Because the battery connection port of the notebook computer belongs to the SMBus interface, the built-in battery connection port of the notebook computer is used as the output module 30 proposed by the present invention, so that no additional connection ports or other additional lines are required, so there will be no Takes up valuable real estate on the motherboard. Furthermore, the error detection code is received and output through the battery connection port. When an external device needs to read the error detection code, it only needs to be connected to the battery connection port to read it. It is no longer necessary to disassemble the case like the previous technology, so the operation very convenient.

In addition, the output module 30 may also be an additional reserved system management bus connection port. At this time, it is only necessary to reserve a space of 2 to 3 pins on the motherboard. Compared with the way of reserving the LPC interface in the prior art, the device proposed by the present invention can reduce the number of signal lines to 2 to 3 pins. root. In this way, the configuration space on the motherboard can be saved, and the placement of the connection ports can be more flexible.

Please refer to FIG. 2 , which is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a device for displaying BIOS error detection codes. In the second embodiment, the output module 30 can simultaneously include the battery connection port 32 of the notebook computer and the additionally reserved system management bus connection port 34 . In this case, the device for displaying the BIOS error detection code further includes: a detection module 40 .

The detection module 40 detects whether the battery of the notebook computer is connected to the battery connection port, and generates a detection signal. Wherein, the detection signal may respectively represent the following two situations. When the detection signal represents that the battery of the notebook computer is not connected to the battery connection port 32, the error detection code will be received and output by the battery connection port 32; The code will be received and output by the system management bus connection port 34. The dotted line in FIG. 2 indicates that according to the detection signal of the detection module 40 , the error detection code can be received and output by one of the battery connection port 32 and the system management bus connection port 34 .

The computer system mentioned above can be a notebook computer or a desktop computer. Since the desktop computer does not have the battery connection port 32 , when applied to a desktop computer, the output module 30 can use an additional reserved system management bus connection port 34 . At this time, the error detection code converted by the conversion module 20 is received by the system management bus connection port 34 and outputted.

Please refer to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B at the same time, which are schematic diagrams of the third and fourth embodiments of the device for displaying the BIOS error detection code. In this case, a display module 50 is also included.

The display module 50 is used for connecting the output module 30 and displaying the error detection code. When the user needs to read the error detection code to understand the status of the hardware equipment of the computer system, he only needs to connect the display module 50 with the output module 30 to display the error detection code. Because, the output module 30 that is connected with it can be battery connection port 32 or system management bus connection port 34, and the interface forms of both belong to SMBus interface equally, so display module 50 must have the connection port of SMBus interface, and be connected with it . The dotted line in FIG. 3B indicates that the error detection code is received and output by one of the battery connection port 32 and the system management bus connection port 34 based on the detection signal, so the display module 50 can be connected to the battery connection port 32, One of the two ports 34 is connected to the system management bus for displaying the error detection code.

Please refer to FIG. 4 , which shows a flowchart of a method for displaying BIOS error detection codes, including the following steps.

Step S10: Generate an error detection code by the basic input output system (BIOS).

Step S20: Transmit the error detection code through the low pin count (LPC) interface.

Step S30: converting the error detection code into a system management bus (SMBus) format.

Step S40: providing an output module of a system management bus (SMBus) interface for receiving and outputting an error detection code. Wherein, the output module may be a battery connection port (port) of the notebook computer, or an additionally reserved system management bus connection port (port).

In addition, the output module can also include the battery connection port of the notebook computer and an additional reserved system management bus connection port. In this case, the following steps are also included: detecting whether the battery of the notebook computer is connected to the battery connection port, and generating a detection signal. Wherein, when the detection signal indicates that the battery of the notebook computer is not connected to the battery connection port, the error detection code is received and output by the battery connection port. In contrast, when the detection signal indicates that the battery of the notebook computer has been connected to the battery connection port, the error detection code is received and output by the system management bus connection port.

Furthermore, in order to make the error detection code readable by the user, the following steps may be included: providing a display module connected to the output module; displaying the error detection code. In this way, the user can read the error detection code through the display module.

Although the technical content of the present invention has been disclosed above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any changes and modifications made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention should be covered by the scope of the present invention Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the content of the appended claims.

Claims (19)

1. A device for displaying BIOS error detection codes, applied to a computer system, the device for displaying BIOS error detection codes includes: a BIOS for generating an error detection code, and the error detection code is transmitted by a low pin count interface; a conversion module, receiving the error detection code, and converting the error detection code into a system management bus format; and An output module is used for receiving and outputting the error detection code transmitted by the conversion module, and the output module is a system management bus interface. 2. The device for displaying BIOS error detection codes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output module is a battery connection port of a notebook computer. 3. The device for displaying BIOS error detection codes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output module is an additionally reserved system management bus connection port. 4. The device for displaying BIOS error detection codes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output module comprises a battery connection port of the notebook computer and an additionally reserved system management bus connection port. 5. The device for displaying BIOS error detection codes as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: A detection module detects whether the battery of the notebook computer is connected to the battery connection port, and generates a detection signal. 6. The device for displaying a BIOS error detection code as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detection signal indicates that the battery of the notebook computer is not connected to the battery connection port, and the error detection code is received and output by the battery connection port. 7. The device for displaying a BIOS error detection code as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detection signal indicates that the battery of the notebook computer has been connected to the battery connection port, and the error detection code is received and output by the system management bus connection port. 8. The device for displaying BIOS error detection codes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converting module is a keyboard controller. 9. The device for displaying BIOS error detection codes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer system is a notebook computer. 10. The device for displaying BIOS error detection codes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer system is a desktop computer. 11. The device for displaying BIOS error detection codes as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: A display module is used for connecting the output module and displaying the error detection code. 12. A method for displaying BIOS error detection codes, comprising the following steps: an error detection code is generated by a basic input output system BIOS; transmit the error detection code through a low pin count interface; converting the error detection code to a system management bus format; and An output module providing a system management bus interface is used for receiving and outputting the error detection code. 13. The method for displaying a BIOS error detection code as claimed in claim 12, wherein the output module is a battery connection port of a notebook computer. 14. The method for displaying a BIOS error detection code as claimed in claim 12, wherein the output module is an additionally reserved system management bus connection port. 15. The method for displaying a BIOS error detection code as claimed in claim 12, wherein the output module comprises a battery connection port of the notebook computer and an additionally reserved system management bus connection port. 16. the method for displaying BIOS error detection code as claimed in claim 15, also comprises the following steps: Detect whether the battery of the notebook computer is connected to the battery connection port, and generate a detection signal. 17. The method for displaying a BIOS error detection code as claimed in claim 16, wherein when the detection signal indicates that the battery of the notebook computer is not connected to the battery connection port, the error detection code is received and output by the battery connection port. 18. The method for displaying a BIOS error detection code as claimed in claim 16, wherein when the detection signal indicates that the battery of the notebook computer is connected to the battery connection port, the error detection code is received and output by the system management bus connection port. 19. The method for displaying BIOS error detection codes as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the following steps: providing a display module connected to the output module; and Display the error detection code.

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