JPH06102974A - Power source interface device for portable computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the device control of a power source controller by key operation instruction without necessitating processing operation on the side of a system. CONSTITUTION:A gate array 4 provided with a group of registers capable of mutually reading/writing data is interposed between the power source controller 7 and a keyboard controller 5 and a hot key register (8Eh) write-controlled by the keyboard controller and read controlled by the power source controller is provided for the group of the registers. Then, the keyboard controller sets a key scan code accompanying hot key operation to the hot key register and the power source controller 7 reads the key scan code from the hot key register by polling to control the luminance and the contrast, etc., of a display device 12 in accordance with the code contrast.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power interface device for a portable computer, and more particularly to a power interface device for a laptop or notebook type portable computer having an intelligent power supply equipped with a microprocessor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in laptop type or notebook type portable computers, CP
Higher U processing speed, large capacity hard disk (HD
In order to meet the contradictory demands of improved performance and functions associated with D), high resolution and high brightness display, and extended usability due to battery, and improved usability due to reduction in size and weight. A dedicated microprocessor (power control processor) is used for control, and system power control including battery charging control and power supply control of various input / output devices is performed.

In the conventional portable computer of this type, when the state of the device is changed by key operation,
CPU (main CPU) that controls the system control for the processing
There was a problem that the performance of the system deteriorates due to the intervention of the.

For example, when the brightness of the display is changed by a key operation, the keyboard controller executing the key operation indicates the status of the key operation by the CPU (main CP).
U), and the CPU analyzed the status and sent a command for changing the brightness of the display to the power supply controller. For this reason, conventionally, C that controls system control is used.
There is a problem that the load on the PU is increased and the system performance is deteriorated.

[0005]

As described above, conventionally, when the state of the device is changed by the key operation, the CPU (main CPU) that controls the system intervenes in the process, so that the system performance deteriorates. There was a problem that it would end up.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply interface device for a portable computer, which enables device control of a power supply controller in response to a key operation without imposing a processing load on the system side.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a register which is write-controlled by the keyboard controller and read-controlled by the power controller is provided between the power controller and the keyboard controller, and the power controller includes the register. Directly monitor the specific key input status by referring to it, and when the specific key input status is detected, the specific key input is reflected to the device, so that the key operation can be performed without the system side processing intervention. It is characterized by enabling device control of the accompanying power supply controller.

As a specific example, a gate array having a register group capable of mutually reading and writing data between the controllers is interposed between a power controller for controlling the system power and a keyboard controller for controlling the keyboard, A hot key register (address 8E in FIG. 3) in which writing is controlled by the keyboard controller and reading is controlled by the power supply controller
h) is provided, the keyboard controller sets the key scan code associated with the hot key operation in the hot key register, the power supply controller reads the key scan code from the hot key register by polling, and according to the code content, for example, the brightness of the display device. , Control the contrast, etc. As a result, the key operation can be directly reflected on the control target device of the power supply controller without degrading the system performance.

In addition to the above configuration, by providing a command register that is write-controlled by the CPU that controls the system and read-controlled by the power supply controller, the power supply controller follows the instruction of the command received from the main controller. The correspondence between hot keys and control contents can be defined, and a specific device can be controlled according to the contents of the hot key register.

[0010]

With the above-described configuration of the present invention, the power supply controller can directly see (read) the output of the keyboard controller through the register, and thus the brightness of the display by, for example, hot key operation can be performed without imposing a processing load on the system side.・ It is possible to control the contrast. Also, by interposing a register for transferring commands from the CPU to the power supply controller between the power supply controller and the CPU, it is possible to change the key operation correspondence for controlling the brightness, contrast, etc. of the display device from the system side. Become.

With such a power supply interface device, it is possible to control the device by a key operation instruction independent of the processing operation on the system side without degrading the system performance.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In order to simplify the description, only the control function of controlling the brightness of the display by hot key operation will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU (main CPU) which controls the entire system, and has an SMI interrupt request input terminal, a keyboard controller (KBC) 5, a power controller 7, etc., which will be described later. SM from
SMI (or NM) by I (or NMI) interrupt
I) Perform processing. In addition, SMI (System Management)
ent Interrupt) is a hardware interrupt of the highest priority and is activated by activating the SMI interrupt request input terminal of the CPU.

Reference numerals 2 and 3 denote system-side memories that are accessed under the control of the CPU 1. Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM (system memory) used as a storage area for a program to be executed, a work area, and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a BIOS-ROM that stores a system BIOS.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a CPU 1, a keyboard controller (KBC) 5 described later, and a power supply controller (PS).
C) a gate array (GA) provided between the CPU 7 and the CPU 7, connected to the CPU 1 via the system bus 21, and
It is connected to the power supply controller (PSC) 7 via the SC bus (dedicated bus) 22 and to the keyboard controller (KBC) 5 via the KBC bus 23. The gate array (GA) 4 is provided with a register group that can be read / written via the input / output ports connected to the buses, and here, one register in the register group is as shown in FIG. In addition, the keyboard controller (KBC) 5 is used as a hot key register for the keyboard controller (KBC) 5 to show to the power controller (PSC) 7 and the CPU 1, and some other registers generate an SMI interrupt. It is used as an interrupt register for calling, a register for sending and receiving data (command / parameter), and the like. This gate array (G
A specific configuration example of A) 4 will be described later with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a keyboard controller (KBC) 5 that controls key input of the keyboard (KB) 6, has a dedicated processor like the power controller (PSC) 7 described later, and has a connection port of the system bus 21 and K
It has a connection port for the BC bus 23. This keyboard controller (KBC) 5 is a keyboard (K
B) When a specific key (“Fn” key in this case) on 6 is operated, the hot key register (= address 8Eh) provided in the dedicated register group of the gate array (GA) 4 together with the “Fn” key is operated. The key scan code of the operated key is set, and the contents of the hot key operation are stored in the CPU.
1, and has a function of notifying (reading) the power controller (PSC) 7 and the like.

6 is a keyboard controller (KBC) 5
Is a keyboard (KB) that is key-scan controlled by, and has a [Fn] key for hot key input here. Hot key input by this [Fn] key operation is
It becomes effective when combined with other keys.

By this hot key operation, the keyboard controller (KBC) 5 informs the CPU 1 of the hot key operation, so that the C key is sent via one of the register groups (Fn status register) provided in the gate array (GA) 4.
Generates an SMI interrupt to PU1. The contents of the hot key input by the hot key operation (that is, the key scan code of the key operated together with the "Fn" key) is set in the hot key register of the dedicated register group 41 provided in the gate array (GA) 4. Then, the data can be read by the CPU 1 and the power supply controller (PSC) 7.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a power supply controller (PSC) which is connected to the gate array (GA) 4 via the PSC bus 22 and which realizes an intelligent power supply. The ROM 72, the RAM 73, the A / D port 74, the input port 75, the input / output port 76, the output port 77, and the like.

The power supply control CPU 71 provided in the power supply controller (PSC) 7 is provided as a part of the processing function according to the microprogram stored in the ROM 72 as shown in FIG.
It has a processing routine for controlling the brightness of the flat panel display (DISP) 12 according to the contents of the hot key register as shown in FIG.

Further, the A / D port 74 samples and inputs each voltage (v) of the AC adapter (AC-ADP) 8 and the battery (BATT) 9, the current consumption (i) of the battery (BATT) 9, etc. Digitalize. The digitized voltage and current values are read by the power supply control CPU 71 via an internal bus.

In addition, the input port 75 inputs and latches operation signals of the power switch (PS) 13 and the reset switch (RS) 14 and delivers them to the power supply control CPU 71. Further, the input / output port 76 exchanges data (command / command) with the gate array (GA) 4 via the PSC bus 22.
Parameters).

The output port 77 is connected to the power control CPU 7
Under the control of 1, the ON / OFF signal is output to the power supply switch Sa, the charging switch Sb, etc., and the brightness control signal (DISP) 12 mounted on the system main body (portable computer main body) is output. BCS), contrast control signal (CCS), etc. are output.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an AC adapter (AC-ADP) that uses an external commercial power supply as a primary power supply to generate a secondary power supply for system operation and supplies the system operation power supply to the system main body by a plug-in connection.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a rechargeable battery (BATT) which serves as a battery drive power source for the system, and supplies operating power to each component in the system when the AC adapter (AC-ADP) 8 is not connected.

Reference numeral 10 is an amplifier circuit (A) for obtaining the consumed current of the battery (BATT) 9 as an analog value based on the potential difference across the resistor R1. This consumption current (i) is AC
Adapter (AC-ADP) 8 and battery (BAT
The output voltage (v) of the T) 9 is input to the A / D port 74 of the power supply controller (PSC) 7.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a DC / DC converter which generates a power supply for operating each component constituting the system, and which is an output power supply of the AC adapter (AC-ADP) 8.
Alternatively, the power supply required for each component in the system is generated from the output power supply of the battery (BATT) 9.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a flat panel display (DISP) fixedly or detachably provided on the system body.
12, the power supply controller (PSC) 7 here.
Output port 77, the brightness control signal (BCS) and the contrast control signal (C
CS) is supplied.

Reference numerals 13 and 14 are switches operated by an operator. Of these, 13 is a power switch (PS) 14 for instructing on / off of a system power supply.
Reset switch (RS) for resetting the system
Is. The operation signals of the switches 13 and 14 are input to the input port 75 of the power supply controller (PSC) 7, respectively. The operation signal of the reset switch (RS) 14 is transmitted through the gate in the gate array (GA) 4 to C
It is supplied to PU1, but the circuit is omitted here.

Sa is a power supply switch controlled by a power controller (PSC) 7, which is on / off controlled in accordance with an on / off operation of the power switch (PS) 13 and is forcibly shut off when the system is abnormal. (Off) controlled.

Sb is a charging switch which is switched on / off by the power supply controller (PSC) 7 in the charging mode of the battery (BATT) 9, and when the switch is on, the AC adapter (AC-ADP) 8 Is supplied to the battery (BATT) 9 through the backflow prevention diode D1 and the resistor R1 to be charged.

D1 is a backflow prevention diode interposed in the output current path of the AC adapter (AC-ADP) 8, and D2 is a backflow prevention diode interposed in the output current path of the battery (BATT) 9.

FIG. 2 shows the gate array (G
It is a block diagram which shows the specific structural example of A) 4. still,
Here, the status LC for driving and controlling the status LCD for displaying the status of each part of the system by icons
The configuration in which the registers (dedicated register group) used in the present invention are provided in the D gate array (GA) is illustrated.

The gate array (GA) 4 has n (eg, 48) n (eg 48) power command system registers, power command registers, etc.
Dedicated register group 41 consisting of 8-bit registers, and ISA- coupled to the system bus (ISA-BUS) 21
BUS interface logic 42, KBC-BUS interface logic 4 coupled to KBC bus 23
3, PSC-BUS interface logic 44 coupled to PSC bus 22, status LCD interface logic 45 for controlling status LCD, SM
It is composed of an SMI signal output logic (SMI · G) 46 for sending the I signal to the CPU 1.

The dedicated register group 41 is made up of 48 register groups, and a unique address is assigned to each register. Some of the registers are hot key registers and power supply controller (PSC) 7. And C
It is used as a data transfer register with PU1. FIG. 3 shows addresses and names (generic names) of the respective registers in the dedicated register group 41. here,
A power command status register (SMI generation code is set by the hot key register (8Eh) which is write-controlled by the keyboard controller (KBC) 5 and read by the CPU 1, the power controller (PSC) 7, etc., and the power controller (PSC) 7. 3Fh), the value is set by the power supply controller (PSC) 7, and C
Various command / parameter registers (34h, 35h to 37h, 38h, 39h) read by PU1,
Command / parameter register set by the CPU 1 and read by polling by the power supply controller (PSC) 7 (30h-32h)
Etc. are to be used, and read / write is performed by designating addresses respectively.

The ISA-BUS interface logic 42 controls the interface with the system bus (ISA-BUS) 21 and controls the read / write of the dedicated register group 41 in response to a request from the CPU 1. Address enable signal (AEN) and dedicated register designation signal (S
PREG), system address signal (SA0), I / O
Read signal (IORD), I / O write signal (IOW
R) and 8-bit system data bus (SD) data in the system bus 21, etc.
Read / write control is performed on any of the registers.

The KBC-BUS interface logic 43 controls read / write of the dedicated register group 41 in response to a request from the keyboard controller (KBC) 30, and is supplied from the keyboard controller (KBC) 5 via the KBC bus 23. Read / write signal (R / W), strobe signal (STROB), and KB
8-bit KBC data line (KBS-D in C bus 23)
Read / write control of an arbitrary register in the dedicated register group 41 is performed by the address / data on the ATA). Also, the KBC-BUS interface logic 43
Outputs a request signal (REQUEST) to the keyboard controller (KBC) 5 via the KBC bus 23 in order to notify the keyboard controller (KBC) 5 of the data content of the register set by the CPU 1.

The PSC-BUS interface logic 44 performs read / write control of the dedicated register group 41 in response to a request from the power supply controller (PSC) 7, and the power supply controller (PS) via the PSC bus 22.
C) Read / write signal (R / W) supplied from 7,
The strobe signal (STROB), the address / data on the 8-bit PSC data line in the PSC bus 22, and the like control read / write of any register in the dedicated register group 41.

Further, the PSC-BUS interface logic 44 receives a signal of a predetermined bit position (bit B7) of the system command status register (30h) used for communication with the power supply controller (PSC) 7, and receives that bit. A request signal (REQUEST) is output to the power supply controller (PSC) 7 in response to the data "1" set by the CPU 1 at the position.

The status LCD interface logic 45 is for controlling the status LCD according to the contents of the display control register group provided in the dedicated register group 41, and its description is omitted here.

The SMI signal output logic 46 is a predetermined bit position (bit B7) of the power command status register (3Fh) used by the power controller (PSC) 7.
When the bit is set to "1", a low level SMI signal is generated. This SMI signal is supplied to the SMI interrupt request input terminal of the CPU 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing addresses and names (generic names) of the respective registers of the dedicated register group 41 provided in the gate array (GA) 4.

4 and 5 are flow charts showing a processing procedure for explaining the operation of the above embodiment, FIG. 4 is a processing flow executed by the keyboard controller (KBC) 5, and FIG. 5 is a power controller ( PS
C) A processing flow executed by 7. here,
As an example of the process in the embodiment, a process in which the power supply controller (PSC) 7 controls the brightness of the flat panel display (DISP) 12 according to the contents of the hot key register (8Eh) is shown as an example.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the above figures. In this case, the power supply controller (PSC) 7 follows the contents of the hot key register (8Eh) and the flat panel display (DISP) 12
The operation will be described with an example of the processing for controlling the brightness of up / down.

The keyboard controller (KBC) 5 is
In the key input processing on the keyboard (KB) 6, "F
The hot key operation by the combination of the "n" key and other keys is monitored. That is, from the contents of the key scan code,
Hot key operation is monitored by determining whether or not another key is simultaneously pressed within the pressing period of the "Fn" key (steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 4).

When it is determined that the hot key is operated, the key scan code of the key operated at the same time as the "Fn" key is stored in the hot key in the dedicated register group 41 provided in the gate array (GA) 4. After being set, another ordinary key input process is started (steps S3 and S4 in FIG. 4).

In this embodiment, the process for controlling the up / down of the brightness of the flat panel display (DISP) 12 is taken as an example.
The up cursor key (“↑” ”) is operated simultaneously with the“ n ”key, and when the brightness is lowered, the down cursor key (“ ↓ ”) is operated simultaneously with the“ Fn ”key.

On the other hand, the power supply control CPU 71 of the power supply controller (PSC) 7 uses the A / D port 74, the input port 75, the input / output port 76, and the dedicated register in the state monitoring process according to the power supply control program stored in the ROM 72. The dedicated registers, hot key registers, etc. in the group 41 are scanned at regular intervals by polling, and the contents (type of key scan code) of the hot key register (8Eh) are determined in the process. Here, the processing for up / down controlling the brightness of the flat panel display (DISP) 12 is targeted, and the hot key register (8
From the content (key scan code) of Eh), the key scan code of the up cursor key (““ ↑ ””) and the key scan code of the down cursor key (““ ↓ ””) are monitored (step S11 in FIG. 5). , S12).

In this hot key judgment processing, when the key scan code of the hot key register (8Eh) is the key scan code of the up cursor key (““ ↑ ””), the brightness control signal (BCS) is set. Level up,
The display brightness of the flat panel display (DISP) 12 is increased, and the process returns to another power supply control process (step S1 in FIG. 5).
3, S15).

When the key scan code of the hot key register (8Eh) is the key scan code of the down cursor key ("" ↓ ""), the brightness control signal (BCS).
Down to the flat panel display (D
The display brightness of the ISP 12 is lowered, and the process returns to another power supply control process (steps S14 and S15 in FIG. 5).

In this way, the power controller (PS
C) 7 can directly read the output of the keyboard controller (KBC) 5 through the hot key register (8Eh), which enables display brightness control by hot key operation without imposing a processing load on the CPU 1 on the system side. It will be possible.

In the above embodiment, the hot key register (8
When the key scan code of the up cursor key (““ ↑ ””) is detected through Eh), the brightness control signal (BC
S) to raise the display brightness of the flat panel display (DISP) 12, and when the cursor is the key scan code of the down cursor key (““ ↓ ””), the brightness control signal (BCS) is lowered to the level. Although the display brightness of the flat panel display (DISP) 12 is lowered, the up / down code can be changed by the CPU 1.

At this time, the CPU 1 causes the dedicated register group 41
System command register (31h) provided in
And system command parameter register (32h)
After setting the up / down control instruction change command and the key scan code to be changed, set the bit 7 of the system command status register (30h) to "1" to issue the command to the power supply controller (PSC). Notify 7 As a result, the power supply controller (PSC) 7 recognizes from the value (“1”) of the bit 7 of the system command status register (30h) provided in the dedicated register group 41 that the CPU 1 has issued a command. , System command register (31
h) and the system command parameter register (32
The contents of h) are read and decoded, and the key scan code of the up / down control instruction is changed according to the command.
Due to this change of the key scan code, the power supply controller (PSC) 7 thereafter monitors the key scan code of the hot key register (8Eh) with the changed key scan code as a monitoring target, and the changed key scan code. Is set in the hot key register (8Eh), the display brightness of the flat panel display (DISP) 12 is controlled up / down according to the key scan code. In this way, the operation keys for controlling the brightness of the flat panel display (DISP) 12 can be changed from the system side.

In the above embodiment, the power supply interface mechanism of the present invention has been described by taking the display brightness control of the display device by the hot key register (8Eh) as an example, but the power supply interface mechanism of the present invention is not limited to the display brightness control. Instead, for example, it can be easily applied to the brightness and contrast of the display device or other system control.
The power supply circuit is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1 and may have another configuration.

[0054]

As described above in detail, according to the power supply interface device of the present invention, the power supply controller can directly read the output of the keyboard controller through the register, and thus the system side can be processed without imposing a processing load. It is possible to control the device by a key operation instruction independent of the processing operation on the side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the gate array shown in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing register contents of a dedicated register group provided in the gate array shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by a keyboard controller (KBC) for explaining the operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by a power supply controller (PSC) for explaining the operation of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... CPU, 2 ... RAM, 3 ... ROM, 4 ... Gate array (GA), 5 ... Keyboard controller (KBC),
6 ... Keyboard (KB), 7 ... Power supply controller (PS
C), 8 ... AC adapter (AC-ADP), 9 ... Battery (BATT), 10 ... Amplifier circuit (A), 11 ... DC
/ DC converter, 12 ... Flat panel display (DISP), 13 ... Power switch (PS), 14 ...
Reset switch (RS), 21 ... System bus, 22
... PSC bus, 23 ... KBC bus, 41 ... dedicated register group, 42 ... ISA-BUS interface logic, 4
3 ... KBC-BUS interface logic, 44 ...
PSC-BUS interface logic, 45 ... Status LCD interface logic, 46 ... SMI
Signal output logic (SMI / G), 71 ... Power control CP
U, 72 ... ROM, 73 ... RAM, 74 ... A / D port, 75 ... Input port, 76 ... Input / output port, 77 ... Output port. Sa ... Power supply switch, Sb ... Charging switch, D1, D2 ... Backflow prevention diode.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A register, which is write-controlled by the keyboard controller and read-controlled by the power controller, is provided between the power controller and the keyboard controller, and the power controller refers to the register to specify a specific key input state. A power supply interface device for a portable computer, characterized in that when a specific key input state is directly monitored, the specific key input is reflected in a system component associated in advance. 2. A power supply controller for controlling a system power supply, a keyboard controller for controlling a keyboard, and a keyboard controller intervening between the respective controllers so that key input information associated with hot key operation is written by the keyboard controller. A power interface device for a portable computer, comprising: a hot key register to be read; and a device which is controlled by the power controller and reflects the contents of the hot key register. 3. The power supply interface device according to claim 1, wherein the register is provided in a gate array forming a specific function circuit. 4. The power supply interface device according to claim 2, wherein the contents of the hot key register are reflected on the display device under the control of the power supply controller. 5. The power supply interface device according to claim 2, wherein the brightness and / or contrast of the display device is controlled by a power supply controller. 6. A gate array having a register group capable of mutually reading and writing data between the respective controllers between a main controller controlling the system control, a power controller controlling the system power, and a keyboard controller controlling the keyboard. With the interposition of, a hot key register that is write-controlled by the keyboard controller and read-controlled by the main controller and the power supply controller, and a command register that is write-controlled by the main controller and read-controlled by the power supply controller are provided in the register group. The power supply controller defines correspondence between hot keys and control contents according to an instruction of a command received from the main controller, and controls a specific device according to contents of the hot key register. Power interface device for portable computer.