JPH04123119A - Personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the connection of an AC adaptor from being forgotten by generating a warning sound or a warning message in the case the AC adaptor is not connected to a personal computer in a state that an extension unit is connected, based on information of a status line for showing a fact that the power is supplied from the AC adaptor. CONSTITUTION:A power unit 5 outputs a status for showing a fact that the power is supplied from an AC adaptor through a status line 6. When a power source switch is turned on, a CPU 7 decides whether an extension unit 2 is connected to a main body 1 or not through an input/output port 16. In such a case, when it is confirmed that the extension unit 2 is connected, the status from the AC adaptor 3 is read through an input/output port 8. In such a case, unless the AC adaptor 3 is connected, a warning message is written in a display controller 11, displayed on a display device 12, and simultaneously, a warning sound is generated by a loudspeaker 14. In such a way, it can be prevented to forget the connection of the AC adaptor, and such an inconvenience as a data loss, etc., is eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a personal computer to which an expansion unit can be connected via a connector.

(Prior Art) In the field of personal computers, laptops, which are small, lightweight, and convenient to carry, have become popular in place of the conventional desktop type. Portable computers, such as laptops, have poor expandability because they pursue the above-mentioned miniaturization.

Poor expandability means that an option board or the like cannot be installed inside the main body, or that only about one option board can be installed. Therefore, the only drawback is that it is not scalable.

To overcome this drawback, personal computers have been developed that are designed to allow expansion units to be connected to the outside of the computer. In this case, the main body is provided with a dedicated expansion connector or a mechanism that allows an interface port with an expansion unit to be attached to the main body.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, this type of personal computer main body can be operated with either a battery or an AC adapter. - On the other hand, the expansion unit to which a relatively heavy input/output device such as a printer is connected is A.
Many are driven by C drive.

Therefore, if the operator forgets to connect the AC adapter to the personal computer, the battery of the personal computer will run out after a certain period of time, and for example, if the operator forgets to connect the AC adapter to the personal computer, the battery of the personal computer will run out after a certain period of time. There were problems with the system stopping and data being lost.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and when an expansion unit is connected to a personal computer that can be operated on either a battery or an AC adapter, the user forgets to connect the AC adapter to the personal computer and accidentally connects the battery to the battery. To provide a personal computer which eliminates inconveniences such as data loss due to end of life.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a personal computer main body driven by a battery or an AC adapter, an AC-driven expansion unit connected to the personal computer main body via a connector, A power status supply means that notifies as a status whether or not power is being supplied from the AC adapter; and a warning means that refers to this status and issues a warning sound or a warning message when an attempt is made to use the expansion unit with battery power. It is characterized by comprising the following.

(Function) The present invention has the above-described configuration, and based on the status line information indicating that power is supplied from the AC adapter,
If the AC adapter is not connected to the personal computer while the expansion unit is connected, a warning message is displayed on a display device or an alarm is emitted from a speaker to prompt the operator to connect the AC adapter.

This prevents forgetting to connect the AC adapter due to messages, alarms, etc., and therefore eliminates the above-mentioned inconveniences such as data loss.

In other words, in the past, when data was transferred unattended by connecting a communication card or the like to an expansion unit, if the user forgot to connect the AC adapter to the main unit, the battery would run out after a certain period of time and the personal computer would stop working. Data during data communication may be lost. On the other hand, in the present invention, it is possible to prevent forgetting to connect the AC adapter by using a message, an alarm, etc., so that the above-mentioned inconvenience can be eliminated.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail using the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a personal computer main body, which includes a CPU 7, ROM 10, RAM 9, and various standard input/output devices.

Reference numeral 2 is an expansion unit, which allows optional input/output devices to be added. Reference numeral 3 denotes an AC adapter, which supplies power to the personal computer main body 1. A battery 4 supplies power to the personal computer main body 1 when the AC adapter 3 is not connected to the personal computer main body 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes a power supply device, which supplies the necessary power to the personal computer main body 1, and is also a device with a built-in microcomputer that also controls low battery. Reference numeral 6 is a status line, and a signal indicating whether or not power is being supplied from the AC adapter 3 is transferred.

Reference numeral 7 is a CPU, which controls the main body of the personal computer. Reference numeral 8 denotes an input/output port, and the CPU 7 reads the status through this port to know whether or not power is being supplied through the AC adapter 3.

Reference numeral 9 is a system R in which programs and data are stored.
AM, code 10 is the basic human output control system (BIO
8), 11 is a display controller, 12 is a display device, 13 is an input/output port, and 14 is a speaker for emitting an alarm.

Reference numeral 15 is a connector that connects the personal computer main body 1 and the expansion unit 2. Reference numeral 16 is an input/output port that reads the connection status of the expansion unit 2. This can also be provided within the expansion unit 2.

Hereinafter, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail. Power supplied to various parts of the personal computer main body 1 is generated by an AC adapter 3 or a battery 4,
Voltage necessary for the system is supplied to each functional section within the personal computer body 1 via the power supply device 5 . The power supply device 5 also outputs a status indicating that power is being supplied from the AC adapter 3 via the status line 6.

First, when the power switch of the personal computer main body 1 is turned on, the CPU 7 determines whether or not the expansion unit 2 is connected to the main body 1 via the input/output port 16.
If it is confirmed that the expansion unit 2 is connected, the status indicating whether or not power is being supplied from the AC adapter 6 is read via the input/output port 8. At this time, if the AC adapter 3 is not connected, a warning message is written to the display controller 11, and the display device M12
to be displayed. This signal is also supplied to the speaker 14 at the same time to generate a warning sound. Although the explanation here is based on issuing a warning message and a warning sound, it is also possible to use either one.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention enables the AC adapter to connect to the PC while the expansion unit is connected, based on the status line information indicating that power is supplied from the AC adapter. By providing a function that prompts the operator to connect the AC adapter by displaying a warning message on the display device or emitting an alarm from the speaker if it is not connected, messages and alarms can prevent forgetting to connect the AC adapter. , data loss and other inconveniences are eliminated. In other words, in the past, when data was transferred unattended by connecting a communication card or the like to an expansion unit, if the user forgot to connect the AC adapter to the main unit, the battery would run out after a certain period of time and the personal computer would stop. Data may be lost during data communication. In contrast, the present invention uses messages, alarms, etc.
Since forgetting to connect one adapter can be prevented, the above-mentioned inconvenience is eliminated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Personal computer main body, 2... Expansion unit, 3... AC adapter, 4... Battery, 5
...Power supply device, 6...Status line, 7.
...CPU, 8.13.16...I/O port.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A personal computer main body that is powered by a battery or an AC adapter, an AC-powered expansion unit that is connected to the personal computer main body via a connector, and a status indicator in the main body that indicates whether or not power is being supplied from the AC adapter. A power supply status supply means for notifying a specific interface unit, and a warning unit for referring to the status of the specific interface unit and emitting a warning sound or a warning message when an attempt is made to use the expansion unit with a battery. Characteristic personal computer.